title: Myasthenia gravis and D-penicillamine.
abstract: There has been some uncertainty as to whether the apparent association between myasthenia gravis (MG) and D-penicillamine (D-P)-treated rheumatoid arthritis (RA) could be due to chance or whether the drug is responsible. In the absence of D-P, RA is found in association with MG, but this may simply reflect the high prevalence of RA. Although MG may be more common than expected after D-P treatment of RA, it probably occurs in only approximately 1% of such patients. In these circumstances, it is difficult to prove that D-P can induce MG, but compelling evidence in support for this possibility comes from the finding of differences between autoantibodies when spontaneous and D-P-associated MG are compared. These serologic differences could be explained in terms of an effect of D-P on antigen presentation and/or immunoregulation.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000209:etiology; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D010396:Penicillamine