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Dysphagia in elderly men with myasthenia gravis
K J Kluin1, M B Bromberg, E L Feldman
1Department of Neurology, University of Michigan Medical Center, 1H243 University Hospital, Ann Arbor 48109-0050, USA.
Journal of the Neurological Sciences
|June 1, 1996
Summary
Myasthenia gravis in elderly men often causes severe swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) impacting speech and potentially leading to aspiration. This swallowing impairment may not improve concurrently with other myasthenia gravis symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Speech-Language Pathology
Background:
- Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular disorder affecting voluntary muscles.
- Elderly individuals with MG may present with specific bulbar symptoms like dysphagia and dysarthria.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the swallowing and speech characteristics in elderly men diagnosed with myasthenia gravis.
- To identify common swallowing patterns and their severity using videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS).
Main Methods:
- Speech pathology evaluations were conducted on eight elderly men with MG.
- Videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS) were performed to assess pharyngeal phase swallowing function.
Main Results:
- All patients exhibited fatigable flaccid dysarthria and significant pharyngeal phase dysphagia.
- Reduced pharyngeal motility, laryngeal penetration, and silent aspiration were prevalent findings.
- Five patients required feeding tubes due to poor response of dysphagia to treatment.
Conclusions:
- Elderly men with MG present with a distinct swallowing profile characterized by greater-than-expected pharyngeal dysphagia.
- Swallowing difficulties in this population may be refractory to treatment and may not resolve as rapidly as other MG symptoms.