Myasthenia gravis during interferon alfa therapy

Neurology. 1995 Feb;45(2):382-3. doi: 10.1212/wnl.45.2.382.

Abstract

Patients treated with interferon alfa can develop autoantibodies and autoimmune diseases. We describe two patients who developed myasthenia gravis with abnormal levels of serum anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies during interferon alfa-2b treatment for malignancies. One of these patients had myopathic findings on EMG and focal deficiency of cytochrome c oxidase on muscle biopsy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cytochrome-c Oxidase Deficiency
  • Electromyography
  • Electron Transport Complex IV / analysis
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / adverse effects*
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / enzymology
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / pathology
  • Myasthenia Gravis / chemically induced*
  • Myasthenia Gravis / pathology
  • Myasthenia Gravis / physiopathology
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Succinate Dehydrogenase / analysis
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / surgery
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / therapy*

Substances

  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Succinate Dehydrogenase
  • Electron Transport Complex IV