Bilateral Facial Palsy Without Ocular Muscle Involvement in Myasthenia Gravis: Case Report

Abstract

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune neuromuscular junction disorder that is more common among women than men. It has two major subtypes, namely, ocular and generalized MG, and while facial weakness is common in generalized MG, facial weakness without the involvement of ocular muscle is exceedingly rare. Here, we describe the case of a middle-aged man who presented with bilateral facial palsy but without diplopia or proximal muscle weakness. The patient tested positive for acetylcholine receptor antibodies and exhibited amplitude decrement on repetitive nerve stimulation, which are diagnostic for MG. This report emphasizes the importance of neurodiagnostic and physiological testing in patients presenting with bilateral facial weakness alone.

Keywords: acetylcholine receptor; emg; facial palsy; myasthenia gravis (mg); nerve conduction study (ncs).