Prolonged improvement after rituximab: two cases of resistant muscle-specific receptor tyrosine kinase + myasthenia gravis

J Clin Neuromuscul Dis. 2010 Dec;12(2):85-7. doi: 10.1097/CND.0b013e3181fcc109.

Abstract

Forty percent to 50% of acetylcholine receptor antibody-seronegative patients with myasthenia gravis have muscle-specific receptor tyrosine kinase antibodies. Many muscle-specific receptor tyrosine kinase + myasthenia gravis patients remain refractory with conventional therapies. Rituximab is an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody used in refractory B-cell disorders. Currently there is no standard dosing schedule for rituximab. We present two muscle-specific receptor tyrosine kinase + myasthenia gravis patients clinically refractory to conventional therapy who, after a single course of rituximab, became asymptomatic and discontinued all medication.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / administration & dosage*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / adverse effects
  • Autoantibodies / biosynthesis*
  • Drug Resistance / immunology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Myasthenia Gravis / enzymology
  • Myasthenia Gravis / immunology*
  • Myasthenia Gravis / therapy*
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / immunology*
  • Receptors, Cholinergic / immunology*
  • Recovery of Function / immunology
  • Rituximab
  • Time
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Autoantibodies
  • Receptors, Cholinergic
  • Rituximab
  • MUSK protein, human
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases