Respiratory chain complex-I defect mimicking myasthenia

Abstract

In a 67-year-old woman with ptosis, double vision, dysphagia, ambiguous Tensilon tests, normal acetylcholine-receptor antibodies, normal thymus, and repeatedly abnormal responses to low-frequency repetitive stimulation, ocular myasthenia was suspected. Pyridostigmin was ineffective, but corticosteroids improved the abnormalities. Despite this therapy, lower-limb weakness developed. Reevaluation disclosed abnormal increase of serum lactate during slight exercise, myogenic electromyography, ragged-red fibers, reduced oxidative enzyme staining and abnormally shaped and structured mitochondria on muscle biopsy, and a respiratory chain complex-I defect on biochemical investigation of the muscle homogenate. Respiratory chain disorder due to complex-I defect with abnormal decremental response to low-frequency repetitive stimulation was diagnosed. It is concluded that respiratory chain disorders due to a complex-I defect may mimic ocular myasthenia clinically, electrophysiologically, and even therapeutically.