Masticatory muscle weakness as the main manifestation in a patient with Kennedy′s disease: a case report / 中华神经科杂志

ABSTRACT

Kennedy′s disease usually begins with limbs weakness, especially lower limbs weakness and atrophy, accompanied by tongue atrophy. A case of Kennedy′s disease with masticatory muscle weakness and atrophy as the first and main symptoms was reported. The patient was a middle-aged male who had been weak chewing for 7 years with progressive deterioration and needed to hold his jaw with his hand while chewing or speaking. There was no significant limbs weakness throughout the course. Physical examination showed strength of limbs grade Ⅴ, only mild tongue atrophy, but serious masticatory muscle atrophy and weak chowing. He was finally definitely diagnosed with Kennedy′s disease by genetic testing. Masticatory muscle atrophy and weak chowing as the main phenotype is rare in Kennedy′s disease. This case will help clinicians to strengthen the understanding of this rare clinical phenotype of Kennedy′s disease.