Lambert-Eaton syndrome

Lam·bert-Ea·ton syndrome 'lam-bərt-'ēt-ən- n an autoimmune disorder that is caused by impaired presynaptic release of acetylcholine at nerve synapses, that resembles myasthenia, that is characterized by weakness usu. affecting the limbs but not the ocular and bulbar muscles, and that is often associated with carcinoma of the lung called also Eaton-Lambert syndrome, Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome

Lambert Edward Howard (b 1915), and

Eaton Lealdes McKendree (1905-1958)

American physicians. Lambert and Eaton spent the bulk of their careers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. At the Mayo Medical School Lambert served for many years as professor of physiology and in later years also as professor of neurology. Eaton rose to the position of professor of neurology and head of the Clinic's neurologic section. Lambert's areas of research included neurophysiology, electromyography, and various human neuromuscular disorders. Eaton's own research topics included myasthenia gravis and polymyositis. Lambert and Eaton were the principal authors of a 1956 article describing the syndrome which now bears their names.

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Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) an autoimmune, myasthenialike syndrome caused by autoantibodies to the voltage-gated calcium channel (anna 1 antibodies) that interfere with the release of acetylcholine at the motor nerve terminal. Weakness usually affects the limbs, but ocular and bulbar muscles are spared; there is reduced muscle action potential on stimulation of its nerve but with repetitive stimulation it becomes augmented. It is often associated with oat-cell carcinoma of the lung. Called also Eaton-Lambert s. and myasthenic s.