Treatment of myasthenia gravis with high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin

Acta Neurol Scand. 1991 Aug;84(2):81-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1991.tb04912.x.

Abstract

We treated 37 patients affected by autoimmune generalized myasthenia gravis (MG) with high-dose intravenous gammaglobulin (HDIVIg), 400 mg/kg per day on 5 consecutive days. A one-degree improvement of Oosterhuis global clinical classification of myasthenic severity (OGCCMS), the disappearance of bulbar involvement or both were recorded 12 days after the beginning of the treatment in 70.3% of the patients and persisted up to 60 days in 58.7%. A two-degree improvement of OGCCMS was recorded in 54.1% of the patients and it was maintained up to 60 days in 37.8%. The percentage of improvement did not significantly differ between patients entering the treatment in a long-standing, drug-refractory stationary phase of the illness (n = 26) and patients who received HDIVIg in an acute phase of MG (n = 11). None of the patients experienced side effects. Our data indicates that HDIVIg is an interesting, virtually riskless therapeutic choice for MG patients, and allows the planning of a controlled trial versus plasma-exchange.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Autoantibodies / analysis
  • Child
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / administration & dosage*
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myasthenia Gravis / immunology
  • Myasthenia Gravis / therapy*
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Receptors, Cholinergic / immunology
  • Thymectomy

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
  • Receptors, Cholinergic