A clinical and immunological study of a myasthenia gravis patient treated with infliximab.
OBJECTIVE
To measure clinical and immunological parameters in a patient with myasthenia gravis (MG) treated with antibodies against tumour necrosis factor-alpha (infliximab, Remicade).


METHODS
A patient with severe MG received repeated injections of infliximab. His muscle function score was monitored and the immunological parameters were followed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, flow cytometry and radioimmunoassay.


RESULTS
The patient improved in muscle fatigability tests and the levels of antibodies against the acetylcholine receptor decreased during treatment. The activation marker human leucocyte antigen-DR on CD4(+) T cells also decreased.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with infliximab might be beneficial for patients with severe MG but demands careful monitoring of possible serious side-effects.
Kakoulidou
M
M
Immunological Research Unit, Department of Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Bjelak
S
S
Pirskanen
R
R
Lefvert
A K
AK
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069285:Infliximab