title: Predictable recovery from myasthenia gravis crisis with plasma exchange: thirty-six cases and review of current management.
abstract: Adult, acquired, idiopathic, autoimmune myasthenia gravis has a well-characterized IgG anti-acetylcholine striated-muscle receptor antibody. Removal by plasma exchange is effective, established therapy to augment anti-cholinesterase and immunosuppressive therapy and is the treatment of choice for myasthenia gravis crisis. We report 36 consecutive patients referred and accepted for plasma exchange, 32 of whom were in or entering myasthenia crisis, over a 10 year period. An average of 7.8 (range 1 to 16) plasma exchange procedures were done, with uniform, significant improvement, including extubation of 13 in myasthenic crisis and discharge from hospital in all. We conclude that this is the best treatment for myasthenia gravis crisis in hospital. From recent cases, most, if not all, crises can be prevented by IVIgG or plasma exchange as out-patients with use of corticosteroid and or azathioprine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mahalati
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Mayer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015624:Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D010951:Plasma Exchange / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017285:Polymyositis / Q000628:therapy; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013934:Thymectomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic