title: Pericarditis in myasthenia gravis.
abstract: Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder with antibodies to the acetylcholine receptors (Ach R) in skeletal muscles. Myocardial involvement can present as a myocarditis or with arrhythmias. To our knowledge, there is no documentation in the literature of pericardial involvement in myasthenia gravis. We report the presence of pericardial effusion and atrioventricular conduction block in a patient with myasthenia gravis that responded appropriately to immunosuppressive therapy and plasma exchanges.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
authors.forename: Hemender S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Vats
authors.forename: Steven K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Satyavardhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pulukurthy
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Olshansky
mesh_terms: D006327:Heart Block / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000150:complications*; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D010493:Pericarditis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D010951:Plasma Exchange / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents