Myasthenia gravis and premature ovarian failure.
We describe a patient who developed seropositive myasthenia gravis 16 years after she was diagnosed with autoimmune premature ovarian failure with antibodies to the receptor for follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Although thymectomy led to improvement of her myasthenic symptoms, menses did not resume. Such combined seropositivity for antibodies to acetylcholine and ovarian hormone receptors in a patient with myasthenia gravis and premature ovarian failure may reflect common disease mechanisms, although the precise pathogenesis of these disorders remains ill-defined.
Ryan
Monique M
MM
Department of Neurology, Lahey Clinic, 41 Mall Road, Burlington, Massachusetts 01805, USA.
Jones
H Royden
HR
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008594:Menopause, Premature; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016649:Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011962:Receptors, FSH / Q000276:immunology; D013934:Thymectomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001323:Autoantibodies; D011962:Receptors, FSH; D000109:Acetylcholine