Myasthenia Crisis as First Presentation of MuSk Positive Myasthenia Gravis: A Case Report

Abstract

We report a unique presentation of a 57-year-old female presented with severe respiratory acidosis, which was found to be a case of Musk-positive Myasthenia Gravis. Patient presented with depressed level of consciousness and respiratory failure, mandating urgent ventilatory support. She responded well with positive pressure ventilation. However, she persistently failed to maintain adequate ventilation after extubation and had to be reintubated. At presentation, the absence of classical symptoms typical of Myasthenia Gravis posed a diagnostic dilemma, initially obscuring the underlying etiology. However, since there was no other identifiable cause for the inability to maintain ventilation, antibody panels were sent which turned out positive for Muscle specific kinase. This case thus highlights the significance of considering atypical neuromuscular presentations, particularly when respiratory compromise is the predominant manifestation, highlighting the necessity for comprehensive neurological evaluation even in the absence of classical symptoms for timely diagnosis and management of Myasthenia Gravis.