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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
14:02
Ex Vivo Assessment of Contractility, Fatigability and Alternans in Isolated Skeletal Muscles
Published on: November 1, 2012
Continuous muscle fibre activity: a case treated with acetazolamide
N Celebisoy1, Z Colakoglu, Y Akbaba
1Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey.
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
|March 7, 1998
Summary
Continuous muscle fibre activity syndrome causes sustained motor unit activity. Acetazolamide effectively treated muscle stiffness and myokymic movements in a patient by stabilizing nerve cell membranes.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Clinical Medicine
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Continuous muscle fibre activity syndrome (CMFAS) is a group of neuromuscular disorders.
- CMFAS is characterized by sustained motor unit activity originating from peripheral nerve motor axon hyperactivity.
Observation:
- A case study focused on a patient presenting with CMFAS.
- The patient exhibited significant muscle stiffness and myokymic movements.
Findings:
- Acetazolamide, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, demonstrated successful treatment outcomes.
- The therapeutic effect is attributed to acetazolamide's membrane-stabilizing properties.
- Mechanisms include blockade of chloride and bicarbonate transport and kaliuresis, increasing transmembrane potential by reducing extracellular potassium.
Implications:
- Acetazolamide represents a viable therapeutic option for managing CMFAS symptoms.
- Understanding the pharmacological mechanisms provides insights into neuromuscular excitability disorders.
- This case highlights the potential of membrane-stabilizing agents in treating peripheral nerve hyperactivity.
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