Curare Sensitivity and Myastheniform Symptoms in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Summary

The sensitivity to small doses of d-tubocurarine (about 22 and 44 μg/kg., respectively) was tested in:

1. 8 patients with RA and ocular symptoms who received quininelike substances (chloroquine, etc.);

2. 8 patients with RA and ocular symptoms who received no quinine derivatives;

3. 6 patients with painful symptoms of the locomotor apparatus not based on RA, and ocular symptoms;

4. 11 patients with ocular pareses or ptosis not based on MG;

5. 10 patients awaiting a gynaecological operation and 5 neurological patients, without ocular pareses.

   The results of this investigation do not support the hypothesis that a group of patients with rheumatoid arthritis ought to show a higher incidence of latent myasthenia than can be explained by coincidence.