Ten-second exercise is superior to 30-second exercise for post-exercise facilitation in diagnosing Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome.

An incremental response after brief exercise or high-rate stimulation on the repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) test is a critical diagnostic criterion for Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS). This prospective study was performed to determine what duration of exercise shows the highest diagnostic sensitivity for LEMS. The compound muscle action potential amplitude in the abductor digiti quinti muscle was obtained at rest and after 5 s, 10 s, 15 s, 20 s, 25 s, and 30 s of exercise. Incremental responses were compared for the different exercise durations in 24 studies performed in nine LEMS patients. The increment was highest with 5-s and 10-s exercises (244%-243%) and lowest with 30-s exercise (84%). A gradual decrease in the increment was noted from 5- to 30-s exercise. A significant difference in the increment was noted between 5- to 10-s and 20-s to 30-s exercise. There was significantly higher diagnostic sensitivity with the 10-s exercise compared with 30-s exercise at 100% increment and 60% increment levels. Higher increment and diagnostic sensitivity were achieved with 10-s exercise than with 30-s exercise. Thus, 10-s exercise should be the standard protocol for the RNS test for LEMS.