title: Oculo-bulbar myasthenia gravis induced by cytokine treatment of a patient with metastasized renal cell carcinoma.
abstract: The occurrence of autoimmune diseases or deterioration of pre-existing disorders has recently been described after cytokine treatment. The present report gives evidence for acquired myasthenia gravis induced by externally administered interferon-alpha and interleukin-2 in a patient with metastasized renal cell carcinoma. Electromyographic investigations did not reveal generalised myasthenia gravis. However, a highly elevated titre of antibodies against the human acetylcholine receptor and a significant improvement in clinical symptoms during therapy with anticholinesterase drugs, combined with a decremental response in electronystagmography, indicated an intermittent mainly oculo-bulbar form of myasthenia gravis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Technical University of Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rohde
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sliwka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schweizer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jakse
mesh_terms: D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy; D016207:Cytokines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic