Myasthenia gravis with alopecia totalis.
Myasthenia gravis was diagnosed on the basis of a positive Tensilon test in a 4-year-old male child with alopecia totalis. His scalp hair and eyebrows had began to disappear at the age of 10 months. No other physical abnormalities such as motor paralysis, were seen except for left ptosis and alopecia totalis. His serum titer of anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody was elevated. No immune system abnormalities (C3, C4, CH50, C-reactive protein, antinuclear antibody or lymphocyte function disorders) were detected. Although alopecia areata and alopecia totalis are sometimes present in adults with autoimmune diseases and myasthenia gravis, this association is rare in children. The present case represents the youngest patient with myasthenia gravis associated with alopecia totalis.
Noguchi
Y
Y
Department of Pediatrics, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Fuchigami
T
T
Morimoto
S
S
Harada
K
K
D000505:Alopecia / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D000906:Antibodies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology
D000906:Antibodies; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic