Long-term effect of intravenous immunoglobulin on anti-MuSK antibody-positive myasthenia gravis

Acta Neurol Scand. 2007 Dec;116(6):406-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2007.00877.x.

Abstract

Anti-muscle-specific receptor tyrosine kinase (MuSK) antibody-positive myasthenia gravis (MG) patients show various responses to conventional immunosuppressive treatment and some patients are resistant to these therapies. We report a 50-year-old Japanese man with anti-MuSK antibody-positive MG, who showed no or poor response to various therapies, including plasmapheresis, corticosteroid, and tacrolimus. The patient was then treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), and showed a good response that persisted over 20 months. The outcome of this case suggests that IVIG treatment may be an effective therapeutic option for anti-MuSK antibody-positive MG, with a potentially long-term effect.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Autoantibodies / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / immunology
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / pharmacology*
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myasthenia Gravis / drug therapy*
  • Myasthenia Gravis / immunology*
  • Myasthenia Gravis / physiopathology
  • Neuromuscular Junction / drug effects
  • Neuromuscular Junction / immunology
  • Neuromuscular Junction / physiopathology
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / immunology*
  • Receptors, Cholinergic / immunology*
  • Time
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

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