Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic syndrome in a child with an autoimmune phenotype

We report on a child with a family history of autoimmune defects, who presented at the age of 3 1/2 years with alopecia and Graves disease. He subsequently developed vitiligo and psoriasis. At 9 1/2 years, he developed an autoimmune form of Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) with a significant elevation of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) autoantibodies. Shortly thereafter he developed chronic urticaria. HLA associations were present for Graves disease, vitiligo, psoriasis, and IgA deficiency. There was also evidence of autoimmunity involving the pancreatic islet cells and gastric parietal cells. (C) 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.