Quantification of Cover Test Prior and Post Pyridostigmine in Diagnosis of Myasthenia Gravis

ABSTRACT

Objective: To assess the value of measuring diplopia before and after pyridostigmine intake to differentiate myasthenia gravis from sagging eye syndrome.

To establish a threshold for a positive response to pyridostigmine in the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis.

Methods: 15 patients with myasthenia gravis and 15 with sagging eye syndrome diplopia were evaluated. Diplopia was measured in five positions (upgaze, downgaze, right gaze, left gaze, and primary position). After baseline measurements, the patient received a single dose (60 mg) of pyridostigmine. After 60 minutes the prism measure was performed again in five positions. Horizontal deviation, vertical deviation at distance was compared before and after a single dose of pyridostigmine in each gaze. Ocular deviations were compared between the two groups to identify the threshold with the highest sensitivity and specificity.

Results: Differences between pretest deviations and posttest deviations in any gaze were found to be statistically significant only in the MG group. The optimum threshold for a positive response to pyridostigmine was a reduction of 2 prism diopters in any component in any gaze. Sensitivity for the detection of myasthenia diplopia was 80.00% and specificity was 86.67%.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that measuring diplopia with prisms before and after pyridostigmine administration can help to detect patients with suspected myasthenia.

KEYWORDS:

• Ocular myasthenia gravis
• sagging eye
• pyridostigmine
• prism

Consent for participation and publication

All patients gave fully informed written consent.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interest.

Ethics approval

The study was approved by the Hospital del Mar ethics committee.