Frontiers in Neurology (May 2023)

Case report: Persistent hypogammaglobulinemia in thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis: the impact of rituximab or Good's syndrome?

  • Jingru Ren,
  • Jianchun Wang,
  • Ran Liu,
  • Jing Guo,
  • Yan Yao,
  • Jingjing Luo,
  • Hongjun Hao,
  • Feng Gao

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2023.1152992
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14

Abstract

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IntroductionRituximab (RTX) showed good efficacy and safety for patients with myasthenia gravis. However, the percentage of peripheral CD20+ B cell may be absent for years after low dose of RTX treatment. Persistent hypogammaglobulinemia and opportunistic infection may occur in patients under treatment of RTX with thymoma relapse.Case representationWe report a case of refractory myasthenia gravis. After two doses of 100 mg rituximab, the patient developed transient neutropenia. The peripheral blood CD20+ B cell percentage was 0 more than 3 years. Eighteen months later, the patient's symptoms relapsed with thymoma recurred. She had persistent hypogammaglobulinemia and multiple opportunistic infections.ConclusionIn MG patient under B cell depletion therapy had thymoma relapse, Good's syndrome may induce prolonged B cell depletion, hypogammaglobulinemia and opportunistic infections.

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