Beneficial effect of tacrolimus on myasthenia gravis with thymoma.

Abstract

We examined the effect of tacrolimus on myasthenia gravis (MG). Five patients with thymoma and 5 patients without thymoma underwent prior thymectomy but showed persistent myasthenic symptoms. Oral administration with tacrolimus significantly improved MG scores 1, 3, and 6 months following the beginning of treatment in all patients (P < 0.05), and the improvement was significantly higher in the thymoma group compared with the nonthymoma group (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant change in antiacetylcholine receptor titers in either group. This indicates a particular application of immunosuppressive therapy for thymomatous MG following thymectomy.

• Authors: Takao Mitsui, Makoto Kunishige, Michiko Ichimiya, Kana Shichijo, Itsuro Endo, Toshio Matsumoto
• Journal: The neurologist (Neurologist) Vol. 13 Issue 2 Pg. 83-6 (Mar 2007) ISSN: 1074-7931 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17351528 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Autoantibodies
• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Receptors, Nicotinic
• Tacrolimus

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Adult
• Aged
• Autoantibodies (blood, drug effects, immunology)
• Autoimmunity (drug effects, immunology)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunosuppressive Agents (administration & dosage)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Myasthenia Gravis (complications, immunology, therapy)
• Receptors, Nicotinic (immunology)
• Tacrolimus (administration & dosage)
• Thymoma (complications, immunology, radiotherapy)
• Treatment Outcome