title: Successful treatment of myasthenia gravis with tacrolimus.
abstract: Tacrolimus (FK-506) is a calcium-calcineurin inhibitor, successfully used in transplant recipients. We report the successful use of tacrolimus as a single immunosuppressant in a patient who had developed myasthenia gravis (MG) during interferon alpha treatment. In this case, the coexistence of hepatitis C and type 2 diabetes mellitus contraindicated the use of both steroids and azathioprine, and cyclosporine A, although effective, had induced renal failure. Tacrolimus proved to be effective in the treatment of MG, was not significantly hepatotoxic, and was less nephrotoxic than cyclosporine.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, Catholic University, L. go F. Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy. a.evoli@vsb.it
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Evoli
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Schino
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marsili
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Punzi
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D016559:Tacrolimus