News

Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) arose in association with a rare type of aggressive skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a case study reported for the first time. The patient was successfully treated with a combination of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, which may be a suitable strategy for those…

Recently updated criteria to identify cancer-associated diseases like Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) are highly specific and sensitive at detecting these conditions, a recent study reports. The study, “Real-world application of the updated diagnostic criteria for paraneoplastic neurological syndromes,” was published in the Journal of Neuroimmunology.

The U.S. Congress has passed five-year extensions for several user fee programs of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as part of legislation that will keep the government funded through December. The move was welcomed by the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), which stated these programs…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded its approval of Firdapse (amifampridine) to cover pediatric patients, its maker Catalyst Pharmaceuticals announced. This means the therapy is approved in the U.S. to treat people with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) ages 6 and older. “We are very pleased…

Repeated testing of electrical signaling in muscles before and after exercise is a key test for diagnosing Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS), a new case report highlights. The case was discussed at the 32nd International Congress of Clinical Neurophysiology (ICCN) of the IFCN, Sept. 4–8 in Geneva, Switzerland, in a…

The prevalence of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) in Japan is similar to that of other countries, affecting approximately 2.7 out of every one million people in the country. That is according to a study, “Nationwide survey of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome in Japan,” published in the journal…

Muscle responses to low-frequency repetitive nerve stimulation in people with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) were different from those of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG), a study reported. Because LEMS and MG are both autoimmune diseases marked by muscle weakness and other overlapping symptoms, this test may help distinguish…

An elderly woman treated with three courses of pembrolizumab — known by its brand name Keytruda — for a type of lung cancer, called non-small cell lung cancer, had her symptoms of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) return after more than 20 years, according to a report from Japan.

The diagnostic journey of a man in his early 30s with progressive muscle weakness that was ultimately determined to be due to Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) was described in a recent case report. The report, “Progressive motor quadriparesis with wasting: a diagnostic conundrum,” was published in BMJ Case…

Plasma exchange therapy eased the symptoms of a man with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) who tested negative for disease-related autoantibodies, according to a case series study. Researchers noted that a diagnosis of LEMS often relies on the presence of autoantibodies — immune proteins that mistakenly target a…