MYASTHENIA GRAVIS AND AUTOIMMUNE THYROID DISEASE

Abstract

Background. Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmunedisease mediated by autoantibodies against the nicotinicacetylholin receptors at the neuromuscular junction. Patientswith myasthenia gravis often have circulating antibodies againsta variety of tissue constituents. Several studies have shownan increased occurrence of other autoimmune diseases.Patients and methods. The authors presented a patient withgeneralizired myasthenia gravis, which considerably weakenedthe oropharyngeal muscle and caused ocular palsies. Atthe same time the patient’s autoimmune thyroid disease withhypotireosis was discovered. At first the patient reacted well tothe therapy with pyridostigmin bromid and levotiroxin butafter six months her clinical status worsened, what was mainlyseen as oropharingeal muscle weakness, ocular palsies, ptosisand weakness of proximal arm muscles. The authors decidedfor the additional treatment with intravenous immunoglobulinsand immunosupressive therapy.Conclusions. The authors described a case of the patient withmyasthenia gravis and associated autoimmune thyroid diseasewith hypotireosis. It is generally known that autoimmunediseases can be associated with myasthenia gravis, whichcould trigger or worsen the disease. That is why we alwayshave to think of a possibility of other associated autoimunediseases and broaden the diagnostic research.

Keywords

• myasthenia gravis
• autoimmune thyroid disease
• autoimmune disorders
• therapy