title: Etanercept treatment in corticosteroid-dependent myasthenia gravis.
abstract: The authors report a prospective pilot trial of etanercept in corticosteroid-dependent autoimmune myasthenia gravis. Eleven patients were enrolled, with eight completing the 6-month trial. Two patients were withdrawn owing to disease worsening, and one patient was withdrawn because of an erythematous skin rash. Six of the eight patients who completed the trial improved, based on quantitative measures of muscle strength and lowering of corticosteroid requirement.
authors.affiliation: Section of Neuromuscular Disease, Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612-7330, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rowin
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Meriggioli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tüzün
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leurgans
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Christadoss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D000068800:Etanercept; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000068800:Etanercept; D011241:Prednisone