title: Use of intravenous immunoglobulin in a patient with refractory myasthenia gravis associated with malignant thymoma.
abstract: We report on a case of refractory myasthenia gravis that was managed by using intravenous immunoglobulin. A 35-year-old Chinese woman with malignant thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis was treated by total thymectomy, followed by chemotherapy. Thirty months later, she developed respiratory failure and required mechanical ventilation for 2 months. A course of intravenous immunoglobulin was given and her condition improved significantly. Two weeks later, the patient became ambulatory, was prescribed oral pyridostigmine, and was discharged home.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Princess Margaret Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital Road, Kwai Chung, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Ho