Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38949061›Full record

ArticleThe Laryngoscope2024

Heterogeneous Presentations and Serologies in Myasthenia Gravis Patients Presenting with Dysphagia.

Clare Moffatt, Pranati Pillutla, Payam Soltanzadeh, Dinesh K Chhetri

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The Laryngoscope, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Classifying neurogenic dysphagia as a movement disorder.Brain : a journal of neurology · 2025
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Clare MoffattDepartment of Head & Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.ORCID 0000-0003-2794-9956
Pranati PillutlaDepartment of Head & Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.ORCID 0000-0001-5765-2761
Payam SoltanzadehDepartment of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
Dinesh K ChhetriDepartment of Head & Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

Funding

Enabling careers as surgeon-scientists in otolaryngology-head and neck surgeryR25DC020151 · NIDCD · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · PI Jennifer L Long · 2022 to 2026
$887k
NIDCD NIH HHS R25 DC020151NIDCD NIH HHS R25DC020151
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionMyasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease that affects the neuromuscular junction. MG patients may present de novo with primary otolaryngology complaints, including swallowing dysfunction. This study describes a range of unique presentations and rare diagnostic serologies, which have not previously been fully described.

methodsA retrospective review was performed of all patients presenting with primary symptom of dysphagia and subsequently diagnosed with MG. Data collected included demographics, clinical presentation, swallow studies, serology, imaging, treatment, and response.

resultsFive patients met the inclusion criteria. Four endorsed dysphagia as primary complaint and one endorsed dysphagia and dysphonia. All patients underwent in-office swallow evaluations that showed vallecular or pyriform sinus residue. Three patients completed modified barium swallow studies that showed pharyngeal weakness and epiglottic dysfunction in all, and upper esophageal sphincter dysfunction in two. One patient with additional symptom of dyspnea was admitted and found to be in myasthenic crisis. Upon serologic evaluation, three patients were positive for acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies only, one for muscle-specific-kinase (MuSK) antibodies only, and one for low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 (LRP4) antibodies only. All patients received neurology evaluation and were treated with steroids, pyridostigmine, plasma exchange, or rituximab. In three patients with over 1 year follow-up, symptoms were significantly improved or resolved.

conclusionMG is an important differential diagnosis in patients with unexplained pharyngeal dysphagia. While workup can include AChR antibody screening, in seronegative patients with persistent symptoms, additional testing for MuSK and LRP4 may lead to diagnosis and effective treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 134:4903-4910, 2024.

Indexed as

Deglutition DisordersMyasthenia GravisReceptors, CholinergicAdultAgedAutoantibodiesFemaleHumansLDL-Receptor Related ProteinsMaleMiddle AgedReceptor Protein-Tyrosine KinasesRetrospective StudiesAutoantibodiesLDL-Receptor Related ProteinsLRP4 protein, humanMUSK protein, humanReceptor Protein-Tyrosine KinasesReceptors, CholinergicdysphagiaLRP4 antibodiesMuSK antibodiesmyasthenia gravis

Identifiers

PMID38949061
PMCPMC11563909

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.