Abstract
Seventy-nine patients with cyclosporine- and prednisone-dependent myasthenia gravis (MG) after thymectomy received tacrolimus for a mean of 2.5 +/- 0.8 years. Prednisone was withdrawn in all but two patients. Anti-acetylcholine antibodies and MG score for disease severity decreased significantly and muscular strength increased by 39%. Complete stable remission was achieved in 5% of patients and pharmacologic remission in 87.3%. All patients resumed full activities of daily living.
MeSH terms
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Adolescent
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Adult
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Aged
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Aged, 80 and over
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents / adverse effects
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Ataxia / chemically induced
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Autoantibodies / blood
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Autoantibodies / drug effects
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Cyclosporine / administration & dosage
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Cyclosporine / adverse effects*
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Dizziness / chemically induced
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Female
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Humans
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Immunosuppressive Agents / administration & dosage
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Immunosuppressive Agents / adverse effects
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Muscle Weakness / drug therapy
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Muscle Weakness / etiology
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Myasthenia Gravis / drug therapy*
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Myasthenia Gravis / immunology
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Myasthenia Gravis / physiopathology
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Prednisone / administration & dosage
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Prednisone / adverse effects*
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Prospective Studies
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Receptors, Cholinergic / immunology
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Remission Induction
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Renal Insufficiency / chemically induced
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Tacrolimus / administration & dosage*
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Tacrolimus / adverse effects
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Thymectomy / statistics & numerical data
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Time
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Treatment Outcome
Substances
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents
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Autoantibodies
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Immunosuppressive Agents
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Receptors, Cholinergic
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Cyclosporine
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Prednisone
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Tacrolimus