Questions posted in the Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Question Title: KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE AND MYASTHENIA GRAOVIS

Forum: Neurology Forum
Topic: Neurology - General

Re: KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE AND MYASTHENIA GRAOVIS

Re: KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE AND MYASTHENIA GRAOVIS

Posted by CCF Newuro MD *!* on January 12, 1998 at 01:22:50:

In Reply to: KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE AND MYASTHENIA GRAOVIS posted by JEANEE on January 12, 1998 at 00:42:57:

: Following a hysterectomy, cystecele, etc. two years ago I began to manifest
weakness in my arms and legs. When I rode a bike my legs just gave out every
100 ft. sometimes it was so bad I had to pull myself up from a squat. I feels
as if my legs just don't work. Recently my Dr. had a comprehensive bowel
analysis done because of IBS symptoms. I was found to have a very high level
of Klebsiella Pneumoniae. A cursory look in a medical journal just mentioned a
link to Myasthenia Graovis. I was shocked to see some of my symptoms listed
under MG. but I have been unable to find anymore information on the link between
this bacteria and the condition. Can you help ? Thank You.

=
I have reviewed the literature on myasthenis gravis and Klebsiella and found only
one referencr which links the two factors. The linkmis a theoeretical one
and is based on the sharing of sone chemical structures on muscle cells affected in
myasthenia and proteins in a varirty of bacteria including Klebsiella.
As far as I can determine the link is not documented in any stastically
significant fashion and is nor quorted in the strandard neurological texts,
Myasthnia is however frequently reported after surgery.
I am unclear from your message as to whether you actually have a diagnosis
of myasthenia gravis or not, there are a limited number of ways in which
muscle weakening diseases present and there is enormous overlap in symptoms
between the various syndromes.
If you feel strongly that you exhibit the symptoms mentioned the best appraoch
would be to have the diagnosis established unequivocally,.
The main tests for Myasthenia are antibody testing on a blood sample,
EMG which is an test of electrical activity in muscle and the Tensilon test
which tests the response to a short acting intravenous drug which briefly
alleviates symptoms.
These tests are the best way to establish the diagnosis because of the
enormous overlap in patterns of symptoms between various diseases,
the Klebsiella factor is not sufficiently proven to act as a firm foundation
for a diagnoisis.

[Neurology Forum]      [Neurology Forum Archives]

[Health News and Commentary]