title: Immunoadsorption plasmapheresis for severe generalised myasthenia gravis.
abstract: Two patients with severe generalised myasthenia gravis of childhood were successfully treated with immunoadsorption plasmapheresis. One patient was a 5 year old girl and the other was a 12 year old girl. A dramatic improvement in bulbar symptoms and generalised muscle weakness was achieved without any side effects. Plasma exchange may also yield clinical improvement for myasthenia gravis, but the treatment is accompanied by the risk of viral infections and hypersensitivity reactions. Immunoadsorption plasmapheresis is an effective treatment for severe generalised myasthenia gravis of childhood and is superior to plasma exchange with respect to safety.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Shinshu University, School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ichikawa
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hata
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tohyama
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuno
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Komiyama
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D010956:Plasmapheresis / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M