Lambert-Eaton syndrome
Noun: A rare autoimmune disorder where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the neuromuscular junctions—the connections between nerves and muscles. This disrupts the normal release of signals from nerves, leading to muscle weakness. It is frequently, but not exclusively, associated with an underlying cancer, most commonly small cell lung cancer.
The term is used as a medical diagnosis to describe a specific condition characterized by proximal muscle weakness and autonomic dysfunction. * The neurologist diagnosed the patient with Lambert-Eaton syndrome. * Lambert-Eaton syndrome is often a paraneoplastic syndrome, meaning it is triggered by a cancer elsewhere in the body. * Treatment for Lambert-Eaton syndrome may involve addressing the underlying cancer and using medications to improve nerve signal transmission.
- LEMS: A common acronym used in medical notes and literature for Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome.
- The patient's fatigue and weakness were consistent with LEMS.
- Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome: The full technical name, often used interchangeably with "Lambert-Eaton syndrome," which explicitly includes "myasthenic" to denote the muscular weakness.
- Paraneoplastic syndrome (n): A disease or symptom that is the consequence of cancer in the body but is not due to the local presence of cancer cells. Lambert-Eaton syndrome is a classic example.
- Autoimmune disorder (n): A condition in which the body's immune system attacks its own tissues. Lambert-Eaton syndrome is classified as such.
- Myasthenia (n): A medical term for muscle weakness and fatigue. Lambert-Eaton syndrome is a specific type of myasthenic disorder.
- LEMS (n): The standard acronym.
- Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (n): The full formal name.
- Proximal muscle weakness (n): Weakness in muscles closest to the body's core (hips, shoulders, thighs), a hallmark symptom of this syndrome.
- Neuromuscular junction (n): The specific site attacked by the autoimmune response in this disorder.
- 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