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  • Paraneoplastic myasthenia g...
    Skeie, G. O.; Romi, F.

    European journal of neurology, October 2008, Volume: 15, Issue: 10
    Journal Article

    Paraneoplastic myasthenia gravis (MG) is accompanied by a neoplasm, usually thymoma. In patients with thymoma and a specific genetic make‐up, the paraneoplastic immune response develops further in thymic remnant or peripheral lymphatic tissue. Paraneoplastic MG and late‐onset MG (age ≥ 50 years) share a similar immunological profile with high titin and ryanodine receptor (RyR) antibody prevalence. This profile is the most important predictor of clinical outcome in paraneoplastic MG. The presence of a thymoma per se does not cause more severe MG. MG severity is linked to the patient’s immunological profile. Paraneoplastic MG causes a distinctive non‐limb symptom profile at MG onset, characterized by bulbar, ocular, neck, and respiratory symptoms. When the diagnosis of paraneoplastic MG is established, the neoplasm should be removed surgically. Pre‐thymectomy plasmapheresis or iv‐IgG should be considered in these patients to minimize post‐thymectomy MG exacerbation risk. Paraneoplastic MG usually continues after thymectomy. The pharmacological treatment of paraneoplastic MG does not differ from non‐paraneoplastic MG, except for tacrolimus that should be considered in difficult cases. Tacrolimus is an immunosuppressant acting specifically in RyR antibody positive patients through enhancing RyR‐related sarcoplasmic calcium release that in theory might be blocked by RyR antibodies, causing symptomatic relief in paraneoplastic MG.