Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
Remission of severe myasthenia gravis after autologous stem cell transplantation |
| Authors: |
Monica I. Schlatter, Soumya S. Yandamuri, Kevin C. O'Connor, Richard J. Nowak, Minh C. Pham, Abeer H. Obaid, Callee Redman, Marie Provost, Peter A. McSweeney, Michael L. Pearlman, Michael T. Tees, James D. Bowen, Richard A. Nash, George E. Georges |
| Source: |
Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, Vol 10, Iss 11, Pp 2105-2113 (2023) |
| Publisher Information: |
Wiley, 2023. |
| Publication Year: |
2023 |
| Collection: |
LCC:Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
LCC:Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system |
| Subject Terms: |
Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry, RC321-571, Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system, RC346-429 |
| More Details: |
Abstract Objective Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoantibody‐mediated neuromuscular junction disorder involving the acetylcholine receptors on the motor endplate. The safety and response to high‐dose chemotherapy (HDIT) and autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) were assessed in a patient with severe refractory MG. Methods As part of a pilot study of HDIT/HCT for patients with treatment‐resistant autoimmune neurological disorders, a patient with severe refractory MG underwent treatment. After mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells with rituximab, prednisone, and G‐CSF, the patient had HDIT consisting of carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, melphalan, and rabbit antithymocyte globulin, followed by autologous HCT. The effect of treatment on the autoantibody to the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) was assessed. Results The patient had been diagnosed with AChR antibody‐positive MG 14 years before HDIT/HCT and had failed thymectomy, therapeutic plasma exchange, and multiple immunomodulatory agents. The Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) clinical classification was IVb before HDIT/HCT. She tolerated HDIT/HCT well and started to improve clinically within days of treatment. At both 1 and 2 years after HDIT/HCT, patients remained symptom‐free. After HDIT/HCT, AChR‐binding autoantibodies persisted, and the relative frequency of immune cell subtypes shifted. Interpretation HDIT/HCT induced a complete response of disease activity in a patient with severe refractory MG. This response may suggest that a cell‐mediated etiology may be a significant contributing factor in refractory MG cases. A phase 2 clinical trial is warranted to establish if HDIT/HCT can be an effective therapy for severe refractory MG and to gain a further understanding of disease pathogenesis. |
| Document Type: |
article |
| File Description: |
electronic resource |
| Language: |
English |
| ISSN: |
2328-9503 |
| Relation: |
https://doaj.org/toc/2328-9503 |
| DOI: |
10.1002/acn3.51898 |
| Access URL: |
https://doaj.org/article/7a41f5a8945f465c91a6078280e39940 |
| Accession Number: |
edsdoj.7a41f5a8945f465c91a6078280e39940 |
| Database: |
Directory of Open Access Journals |
