The Course of Myasthenia Gravis with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Bekircan-Kurt C. E., Kurne A. T., Erdem-Ozdamar S., Kalyoncu U., Karabudak R., Tan E.

EUROPEAN NEUROLOGY, cilt.72, ss.326-329, 2014 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 72
  • Basım Tarihi: 2014
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1159/000365568
  • Dergi Adı: EUROPEAN NEUROLOGY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.326-329
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Myasthenia gravis, Systemic lupus erythematosus, Thymectomy, Autoimmune diseases, OF-THE-LITERATURE, CXCL13, THYMECTOMY, EXPRESSION
  • Hacettepe Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is one of the autoimmune diseases, which is rarely reported with Myasthenia Gravis (MG). In the literature, the clinical features of MG in these patients were not mentioned in detail. Here, we want to present our five patients with MG and SLE. Methods: Between 2000 and 2010, 132 MG patients were evaluated and have been followed up in our institution. Five patients had MG with SLE and eleven patients had antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity without SLE symptoms. The clinical, laboratory findings and treatment responses were reviewed. Results: All patients had generalized MG and four of five patients experienced at least one myasthenic crisis. The response to corticosteroid was poor; consequently, they needed immunosuppressive treatments, IVIg or plasmapheresis. Although in the literature thymectomy was accused of the precipitation of SLE, in our series SLE symptoms preceded thymectomy. Conclusion: We would like to point out that MG and SLE being two autoimmune diseases may coexist. This coexistence might cause a more severe myasthenic course compared to MG alone; therefore, these patients need a close and frequent follow-up. (C) 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel