Lambert-eaton Syndrome (Noun)
Meaning
A disease seen in patients with lung cancer and characterized by weakness and fatigue of hip and thigh muscles and an aching back; caused by antibodies directed against the neuromuscular junctions.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- Lambert-Eaton syndrome is a rare disorder in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the receptors for neurotransmitters at the neuromuscular junction, leading to muscle weakness and fatigue.
- The patient was diagnosed with Lambert-Eaton syndrome, a paraneoplastic syndrome associated with small cell lung cancer, after experiencing progressive weakness and fatigue in her lower extremities.
- Lambert-Eaton syndrome is often misdiagnosed as myasthenia gravis or Guillain-Barré syndrome, but its distinct clinical features and association with cancer set it apart from these other neuromuscular disorders.
- The symptoms of Lambert-Eaton syndrome can precede the diagnosis of lung cancer by months or even years, making it a crucial consideration in the evaluation of patients with unexplained muscle weakness and fatigue.
- Treatment of Lambert-Eaton syndrome typically involves a combination of immunosuppressive medications, plasmapheresis, and intravenous immunoglobulin, as well as management of the underlying cancer.