High-dose intravenous immunoglobulin for the treatment of MuSK antibody-positive seronegative myasthenia gravis.

Abstract

We treated two patients with anti-muscle specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK)-antibody positive seronegative myasthenia gravis (MG) with high-dose intravenous gammaglobulin (IVIg) and evaluated their clinical courses. Both patients were Japanese women, MuSK-positive seronegative MG, and were unresponsive to conventional treatments, including thymectomy, steroids, and tacrolimus. The patients required frequent hospitalization for plasmapheresis. In case 1, a 45-year-old woman, it was difficult to obtain blood access for plasmapheresis. High-dose IVIg, 400 mg/kg per day for 5 days, was administered in cases 1 and 2. In both cases, clinical improvement was observed 3 days after the start of IVIg therapy and lasted for 2 to 3 months. We propose that IVIg therapy is an effective treatment for MuSK-positive seronegative MG, when conventional treatments have failed.

• Authors: Hirokatsu Takahashi, Naoki Kawaguchi, Yuko Nemoto, Takamichi Hattori
• Journal: Journal of the neurological sciences (J Neurol Sci) Vol. 247 Issue 2 Pg. 239-41 (Sep 25 2006) ISSN: 0022-510X [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 16876198 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antibodies
• Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
• Receptors, Cholinergic
• MUSK protein, human
• Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases

Topics

• Adult
• Antibodies (metabolism)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunoglobulins, Intravenous (therapeutic use)
• Middle Aged
• Myasthenia Gravis (immunology, therapy)
• Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases (immunology)
• Receptors, Cholinergic (immunology)
• Time Factors