The accessory nerve repetitive nerve stimulation test: a valuable second‐line test in myasthenia gravis

Abstract

The diagnostic usefulness of the accessory nerve repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) test was evaluated in 100 patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). The test was easy to perform and reliable at the low rates of stimulation. A higher diagnostic sensitivity was found in the accessory nerve RNS test than in the ulnar nerve RNS test on either the abductor digiti quinti or flexor carpi ulnaris muscles, especially in mild generalized MG. Diagnostic sensitivity was significantly increased when RNS test results for three muscles were combined, especially in mild generalized MG and sero-positive MG. In a small number of cases only the ulnar or accessory nerve RNS test was abnormal. There was a good correlation between electrophysiological and clinical severity of MG in the accessory nerve RNS test Thus, we conclude that the accessory nerve RNS test is a valuable second-line test and its greatest usefulness is in cases of mild generalized MG.