Efficacy of low-dose FK506 in the treatment of Myasthenia gravis--a randomized pilot study.

Abstract

To determine the efficacy of low-dose FK506 in the treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG), untreated de novo patients were randomly selected to receive treatment with (n = 18) or without (n = 16) FK506, and were evaluated for 1 year after treatment with limitation of daily dose of prednisolone. Low-dose FK506 reduced the duration of early-phase therapy in hospital (p < 0.05) and the need for combined therapy with plasmapheresis and high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone or high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone alone (p < 0.05). It also reduced the daily dose of prednisolone (p < 0.05) required to maintain minimal manifestations of MGFA postintervention status. None of the patients exhibited significant side effects up to 1 year after treatment. These findings suggest that low-dose FK506 is safe and efficacious for the treatment of de novo MG patients.

• Authors: Yuriko Nagane, Kimiaki Utsugisawa, Daiji Obara, Ryushi Kondoh, Yasuo Terayama
• Journal: European neurology (Eur Neurol) Vol. 53 Issue 3 Pg. 146-50 ( 2005) ISSN: 0014-3022 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 15900097 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Interleukin-2
• Tacrolimus
• Methylprednisolone

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (therapeutic use)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Immunosuppressive Agents (therapeutic use)
• Interleukin-2 (blood)
• Male
• Methylprednisolone (therapeutic use)
• Middle Aged
• Myasthenia Gravis (blood, drug therapy)
• Pilot Projects
• Plasmapheresis (methods)
• Statistics, Nonparametric
• Tacrolimus (therapeutic use)
• Time Factors
• Treatment Outcome