Use of intravenous immunoglobulin in a patient with refractory myasthenia gravis associated with malignant thymoma

KK Lau, WC Ho
Department of Medicine, Princess Margaret Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital Road, Kwai Chung, Hong Kong

We report on a case of refractory myasthenia gravis that was managed by using intravenous immunoglobulin. A 35-year-old Chinese woman with malignant thymoma�associated myasthenia gravis was treated by total thymectomy, followed by chemotherapy. Thirty months later, she developed respiratory failure and required mechanical ventilation for 2 months. A course of intravenous immunoglobulin was given and her condition improved significantly. Two weeks later, the patient became ambulatory, was prescribed oral pyridostigmine, and was discharged home.

Hong Kong Med J 1999;5:291-3

Key words: Immunoglobulins, intravenous/therapeutic use; Myasthenia gravis/therapy; Thymoma/surgery