title: [Transient neonatal myasthenia gravis].
abstract: Ten to twenty percent of the offspring of mothers suffering from myasthenia gravis (MG) also develop transient neonatal MG, since maternal antibodies are able to cross the placenta. We report the course of two newborns of a mother with MG and a healthy father. The first pregnancy was complicated during the 3rd trimester by a hydramnion. The newborn presented with generalized muscle weakness, respiratory distress, weak sounding, anaemia, and poor sucking. Mechanical ventilation was necessary. Confirmation of the diagnosis was achieved by the result of repetitive muscle stimulation, showing a typical decrement in the EMG, and measurement of serum antiacetylcholin receptor antibodies. For 3 months, the infant was treated with neostigmin (cholinesterase inhibitor). After 26 days of hospitalization, the patient was released and followed up regularly. Myasthenic symptoms completely resolved. Side effects of the treatment were not observed. The course of the second pregnancy was normal. This second newborn was healthy. Our case report is remarkable for the very different presentation of two children of the same mother with MG during pregnancy and after delivery, with one child developing severe transient neonatal MG, initially requiring intensive care unit (ICU) treatment followed by quick recovery, and one child being healthy. We also present a score for monitoring the clinical course and adjusting anticholinesterase therapy accordingly.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Kinderheilkunde, Universität zu Köln. christoph.licht@utsouthwestern.edu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Licht
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Model
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kribs
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Herkenrath
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Michalk
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Haupt
authors.forename: U J
authors.initials: UJ
authors.lastname: Göhring
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal; D020294:Myasthenic Syndromes, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D009388:Neostigmine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012121:Respiration, Artificial
chemical_list: D009388:Neostigmine