Prednisone eliminates the electrophysiological decrement of myotonia congenita.

Abstract

The physiological effect of corticosteroids on myotonia is not reported. We studied a 44-year-old woman with myotonia congenita whose myotonic symptoms improved on prednisone for an unrelated facial palsy. Ten-hertz repetitive stimulation showed a 46% decrement between the 7th and 20th responses at baseline. Prednisone reduced the decrement in a dose-related fashion, to 14% on 20 mg per day and to 5% on 40 mg per day. The short exercise test also improved considerably. Corticosteroids could be further investigated for symptomatic myotonia.

• Authors: Thomas Chelimsky, Peggy Neal, Edward Westbrook
• Journal: Journal of clinical neuromuscular disease (J Clin Neuromuscul Dis) Vol. 4 Issue 2 Pg. 75-7 (Dec 2002) ISSN: 1537-1611 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19078693 (Publication Type: Journal Article)