ASSESSMENT OF SPEECH AND SWALLOWING CHARACTERISTICS IN ADULT EGYPTIAN PATIENTS WITH MYASTHENIA GRAVIS

Abstract

Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disorder characterized by fluctuating muscle weakness due to impaired neuromuscular transmission, primarily from antibodies against acetylcholine receptors (AChR), muscle specific kinase (MuSK), or other less common antibodies. The disease predominantly affects ocular, limb, respiratory, and bulbar muscles, leading to symptoms like ptosis, dysphagia, dysarthria, and myasthenic crisis.Diagnosis relies on clinical signs, antibody testing, and neurophysiological tests like SFEMG (single fiberelectromyograpohy) and RNS (repetitive nerve stimulation).Speech affection is common, especially in MuSK MG, in the form of flaccid dysarthria (hypernasality, vocal fatigue, consonant imprecision and altered voice acoustics).Dysphagia in MG stems from pharyngeal muscle weakness, affecting swallowing safety and efficiency. Also oral phase affection due to masticatory muscles weakness. Tools like video fluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS), Functional endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES), high resolution manometer and the FEES tensilon test are used for assessment.AIM: The aim of this study was to assess speech and swallowing characteristics in adult Egyptian patients with myasthenia gravis in comparison to normal individuals.