title: Low-dose tacrolimus for intractable myasthenia gravis.
abstract: We treated two patients suffering from intractable myasthenia gravis (MG) with low-dose tacrolimus plus prednisolone. Both patients showed significant improvement of myasthenic signs, accompanied by suppressed serum anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody, waning in compound muscle action potential by repetitive nerve stimulation and IL-2 production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Low-dose tacrolimus plus prednisolone is a promising therapeutic regimen for intractable MG.
authors.affiliation: Health Service Center, Kanazawa University, Kakumamachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan. hiroaki@kenroku.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mabuchi
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yasukawa
authors.forename: Masaharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takamori
authors.forename: Masahito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011239:Prednisolone; D016559:Tacrolimus