title: Myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune manifestation of lymphoma and lymphoproliferative disorders: case reports and review of literature.
abstract: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease mediated by antibodies to acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) or muscle specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK). While the frequent association of MG with thymoma in patients aged 40-60 years is well recognized, its occurrence in patients with lymphoma has not been well studied. We review the literature on the association of MG and lymphoid malignancies and report two new patients. MG can occur in a synchronous or non-synchronous fashion with lymphoma. The pathogenesis of MG in lymphoid malignancies is probably heterogeneous and likely relates to perturbations in the immune mechanisms that normally prevent the emergence of autoimmunity. These perturbations could be the result of the lymphoid malignancy per se, or its treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. krezania@neurology.bsd.uchicago.edu
authors.forename: Kourosh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rezania
authors.forename: Betty
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Soliven
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baron
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Vikram
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Penumalli
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: van Besien
mesh_terms: D015762:2-Chloroadenosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003839:Deoxyadenosines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000150:complications*; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D020361:Paraneoplastic Syndromes, Nervous System; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D000069283:Rituximab; D008258:Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D003839:Deoxyadenosines; D015762:2-Chloroadenosine; D000069283:Rituximab; D016572:Cyclosporine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; C055994:2-chloro-3'-deoxyadenosine; D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide; D011241:Prednisone