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Old 05-28-2010, 05:06 PM
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alice md alice md is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by catie View Post
Hi!
I saw the post by Alice MD in Abby's thread today regarding normal SFEMG and negative antibodies does not necessarily rule out a diagnosis of Myasthenia. Can someone explain this further?

I was told this by one of my previous neurologists, but I don't understand. Most literature I've read indicates that a SFEMG is abnormal in "almost 100%" of patients with ocular myasthenia.

Cate
1. the literature is wrong, and is based on very poorly conducted studies. and I admire your neurologist. there are not many that will say that.

2. I will explain it in the most simplistic way: if you want your computer or any other electrical devide to work it has to be plugged into the electrical socket, so that there will be proper trasmission of the electrical signal.

but, does this mean that if a computer is properly plugged and turned on, it will always work?

in the same way, in order for the muscle to function (eg-contract properly) it has to recieve an electrical signal from the nerve. but if this electrical transmission is properly conducted does it mean that the muscle will properly contract?

just like the answer to the first question is-no, so is the answer to the second one.

there is a very complex biological process, which is only partially understood, that traslates this electrical signal into eventual muscle contraction, and many steps along the way that can go wrong.

just like your computer may have a problem with the hard disk, or software, or a virus that interferes with its proper function etc.

alice
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