Remission of Severe Myasthenia Gravis After Massive-Dose Vitamin D Treatment

Am J Case Rep. 2016 Jan 29:17:51-4. doi: 10.12659/ajcr.894849.

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D has been shown to be related to autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and psoriasis. Correlations have been reported between vitamin D levels and prevalence and severity of other autoimmune disorders, and also between vitamin D therapy and disease improvement and remission.

Case report: This is a case report of a patient with severe and refractory myasthenia gravis (MG) who followed a "high-dose vitamin D treatment", a massive-dose treatment (80,000 to 120,000 IU/day) promoted by a medical center in Brazil (but still not proven), and she had her first complete remission after this type of treatment with increased vitamin D serum levels (400 to 700 ng/mL).

Conclusions: This case report may reinforce the reported correlation between vitamin D level and disease severity and introduces a possible new use for vitamin D as a potential target for treating autoimmune diseases. We recommend large, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized studies using high-dose vitamin D treatment for refractory autoimmune diseases to reliably assess this pharmacotherapy target for these diseases.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Myasthenia Gravis / drug therapy*
  • Remission Induction
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Vitamin D / administration & dosage*
  • Vitamins / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Vitamins
  • Vitamin D