Outcomes and characteristics of myasthenia gravis: A 10-year retrospective cross-sectional study at King Fahad Medical City.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the distribution of muscle weakness in Myasthenia gravis (MG) and the therapeutic response in each category. METHODS: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study included all MG patients presented to our clinic between 2010 and 2020. The demographic, clinical, serological, electrophysiological, radiological, and histopathological data of the patients were recorded. The details of the treatment administered were also documented. Muscle weakness was divided into: ocular, bulbar, and generalized. RESULTS: The mean age of the 147 patients included in this study was 34.2±16.6 years. The most common presentation was ocular MG (57.1%). There was no significant association between the gender of the patients and the MG subgroups. Antibodies against AChR were reported in 95.2%, 75%, and 87% of the patients with ocular, bulbar, and generalized myasthenia, respectively. Anti-MuSK antibodies were detected in 20% of the patients with bulbar weakness. Most of the patients with ocular (91.7%) and bulbar (90%) presentation developed generalized weakness. At the end of the follow-up, 82.6%, 70.2%, and 57.5% of the patients with generalized, ocular, and bulbar presentations, respectively demonstrated well-controlled weakness. CONCLUSION: The most common initial presentation was ocular weakness. Most patients with ocular and bulbar presentation developed generalized weakness during the follow up period. The most frequently reported autoantibody was against AChR. Most patients with generalized, ocular, and bulbar presentation demonstrated well-controlled weakness at the end of the follow up period.

Shear wave elastography of the common fibular nerve at the fibular head.

ABSTRACT: The aim of this work is to study the sonoelastographic features of the common fibular nerve in healthy adult subjects.This is an observational cross-sectional study. Shear wave elastography was used to evaluate the common fibular nerve. Crosssectional area and stiffness were measured in kilopascal (kPa) and meters/second (m/s).The study included 82 common fibular nerves in 41 healthy adult subjects. The mean cross-sectional area of the common fibular nerve at the fibular head was 8.7 mm2. Positive correlation was noted between stiffness measurements between short and long axes by both methods. The mean stiffness of the common fibular nerve in the short axis was 22.5 kPa, and in the long axis (LA) was 35.4 kPa. Positive correlation was noted between height and stiffness measured by both methods in both axes by kPa. In m/s, the mean stiffness of the common fibular in the short axis was 2.6 m/s, and while in the LA was 3.4 m/s. Height showed positive correlation with both axes for stiff measurements in m\s. Weight showed positive correlation with stiffness measurements by m/s in the LA.The results obtained in our study could be a reference point for evaluating stiffness of the common fibular nerve in research involving different pathologies.

Shear wave elastography of the tibial nerve in healthy subjects.

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study is to investigate sonoelastographic features of the tibial nerve.The study included 72 tibial nerves in 36 healthy subjects. High resolution ultrasound and Shear wave elastography were used to evaluate the tibial nerve. Cross sectional area and stiffness were measured.The mean cross sectional area of the tibial nerve was 13.4 mm2. The mean shear elastic modulus of the tibial nerve in the short axis was 23.3 kPa. The mean shear elastic modulus of the tibial nerve in long axis was 26.1 kPa. The tibial nerve elastic modulus also showed no correlation with cross sectional area neither in the long axis nor short axis. Age, height, weight, and body mass index showed no correlation with tibial nerve elastic modulus in short or long axes.The elastic modulus of the tibial nerve has been determined in healthy subjects and can serve as a reference for future assessment of polyneuropathy.

Shear wave elastography of the radial nerve in healthy subjects.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to examine the sonoelastographic features of the radial nerve in healthy subjects. METHODS: In this observational cross-sectional study, shear wave elastography was used to evaluate the radial nerve. The cross-sectional area and stiffness were measured. RESULTS: The study included 37 nerves in 20 healthy adult subjects. The mean cross-sectional area of the radial nerve at the arm was 6.1 mm2. The mean stiffness of the radial nerve in the short axis was 30.3 kPa, and that in the long axis was 34.9 kPa. The elasticity measurements were significantly different between the long axis and short axis. CONCLUSION: The elastic modulus of the radial nerve was studied in healthy subjects and can serve as a reference for future assessment of different radial nerve pathologies.

Shear wave elastography of the ulnar nerve at the forearm.

ABSTRACT: The study included 38 ulnar nerves in 20 healthy subjects. High-resolution ultrasound and Shear wave elastography were used to evaluate the ulnar nerve at the mid forearm. The mean cross-sectional area of the ulnar nerve was 7.1 mm2. The mean shear elastic modulus of the nerve in the short axis was 27.4 kPa. The mean shear elastic modulus of the nerve in long axis was 24.7 kPa. No statistical relation could be noted between elasticity measurements in long and short axes. The ulnar nerve elastic modulus also showed no correlation with CSA neither in the long axis nor short axis. Age, height, weight, and body mass index showed no correlation with the ulnar elastic modulus in short or long axes. The elastic modulus of the ulnar nerve has been determined in healthy subjects and can serve as a reference for future assessment of compressive neuropathies of the ulnar nerve.

Ultrasound reference values of C5, C6, and C7 brachial plexus roots at the interscalene groove.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to estimate the reference values of the brachial plexus roots at the interscalene groove. The physical and demographic characteristics of 59 healthy adult volunteers were studied. The CSA reference values and their correlations with weight, height, age, body mass index (BMI). METHODS: Fifty nine (27 males, 32 females) subjects were enrolled in the study. The mean cross sectional area of C5, C6 and C7 nerve roots were obtained. RESULTS: The mean CSA of the brachial plexus roots was as follows: C5 nerve root was 5.1 mm2 (range 1.7-11.1 ± 1.9 SD), C6 nerve root CSA 5.8 mm2 (range 1.7-12 ± 2.4 SD), and C7 nerve root 6.3 (range 1.6-19.6 ± 3.4 SD). There was a significant statistical difference between both sexes in our study. No statistical significant difference in tissue stiffness between dominant and nondominant hands. No statistical correlation was found between the CSA of the cervical nerve roots and different demographic factors. There was a positive statistical correlation between the CSA of C5 and both C6 and C7 nerve roots. Also positive significant statistical correlation was noted between the CSA of C6 and C7 nerve roots. CONCLUSION: The CSA reference values of the C5-C7 nerve roots has been determined in asymptomatic individuals and can serve as a reference when studying pathological conditions of these structures.

Shear wave elastography of the saphenous nerve.

The purpose of this study is to study sonoelastographic features of the saphenous nerve.The study included 72 saphenous nerves in 36 healthy subjects. High resolution ultrasound and Shearwave elastography were used to evaluate the saphenous nerve. Cross sectional area (CSA) and stiffness were measured.The mean CSA of the saphenous nerve was 5.7 mm. The mean shear elastic modulus of the saphenous nerve in the short axis was 29.5 kPa. The mean shear elastic modulus of the saphenous nerve in long axis was 29.9 kPa. The saphenous nerve elastic modulus also showed no correlation with CSA in neither the long axis nor short axis. Positive correlation between elasticity measurements in the long and short axes. Age, height, weight, and BMI showed no correlation with saphenous nerve elastic modulus in short or long axes.The elastic modulus of the saphenous nerve has been determined in healthy subjects and can serve as a reference for future assessment of the saphenous nerve before different procedures.