A Case of the Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy

ABSTRACT

The oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy is a distinct, clinically well-defined myopathy of later life inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion with complete penetrance. Blepharoptosis, dysphagia, lower leg weakness are the most prominent findings. It is a systemic myopathy which affects all voluntary muscles and appears to spare smooth and cardiac muscle. The authors experienced a case of the oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy which showed characteristic signs and symptoms such as symmetric ptosis, dysphagia, and progressive external ophthalmoplegia, and the literature were reviewed.