RESUMO
Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder of the neuromuscular junction caused by circu-lating antibodies specific for the post-synaptic receptor. It results in neuromuscular transmission disorders. After optimal treatment with standard drugs,most myasthenia gravis patients can achieve a good life quality. Part of patients cannot get stable clinical remission or minimal manifestation with standard therapy. Rituximab is a chim-eric mouse/human antibody specific for the CD20 B-cell surface antigen. Studies have showed that rituximab is effective in the refractory myasthenia gravis. This review mainly discusses about the advances of rituximab in the treatment of refractory myasthenia gravis.
RESUMO
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is estimated to be refractory in approximately 10% of patients with generalized MG. A 35-year-old man was diagnosed as generalized MG with thymoma. Despite aggressive immunotherapies, his myasthenic symptoms relapsed five times within one year. We therefore administered rituximab for treating the refractory MG, and this resulted in remission. There are few reports on treating MG with rituximab, but this case suggests that rituximab can be an effective treatment option for refractory MG.