Coline Barraud1,2, Isabelle Desguerre3,4, Christine Barnerias3, Cyril Gitiaux2,3, Christophe Boulay1,2, Brigitte Chabrol1,2. 1. APHM Service de Neuropédiatrie, Hôpital La Timone-Enfants, 264, Rue St Pierre Marseille, 13385, cedex 5, France. 2. Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France. 3. APHP Service de Neuropédiatrie, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris, France. 4. Université René Descartes, Paris, France.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: In this study we determined the clinical, paraclinical, and treatment-related features of juvenile myasthenia gravis (JMG) as well as the clinical course in a cohort of French children. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 40 patients with JMG at 2 French pediatric neurology departments from April 2004 to April 2014. RESULTS: Among the patients, 70% had generalized JMG, 52% had positive acetylcholine receptor antibodies, 8% had muscle-specific kinase antibodies, and 40% were seronegative. Treatment with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors was effective and sufficient in 47% of patients. The 6 patients with generalized JMG treated with rituximab and/or immunoadsorption showed improvement. Thirty percent of the patients required hospitalization in an intensive care unit during follow-up (mean 4.7 years). Remission without treatment occurred in 18% of patients. DISCUSSION: As with adults, JMG has high morbidity, particularly among children with generalized symptoms, and rituximab should be considered early in the course of the disease as a second-line treatment. Muscle Nerve 57: 603-609, 2018.
INTRODUCTION: In this study we determined the clinical, paraclinical, and treatment-related features of juvenile myasthenia gravis (JMG) as well as the clinical course in a cohort of French children. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 40 patients with JMG at 2 French pediatric neurology departments from April 2004 to April 2014. RESULTS: Among the patients, 70% had generalized JMG, 52% had positive acetylcholine receptor antibodies, 8% had muscle-specific kinase antibodies, and 40% were seronegative. Treatment with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors was effective and sufficient in 47% of patients. The 6 patients with generalized JMG treated with rituximab and/or immunoadsorption showed improvement. Thirty percent of the patients required hospitalization in an intensive care unit during follow-up (mean 4.7 years). Remission without treatment occurred in 18% of patients. DISCUSSION: As with adults, JMG has high morbidity, particularly among children with generalized symptoms, and rituximab should be considered early in the course of the disease as a second-line treatment. Muscle Nerve 57: 603-609, 2018.
Authors: Mohamed F Binfalah; Hussein H Alhafnawi; Ahmed A Jaradat; Eslam Shosha; Ali J Alhilly; Firas K Al Nidawi; Mariam M Alhammadi; Moiz O Bakhiet; Fatema M Abdulla Journal: Neurosciences (Riyadh) Date: 2022-01 Impact factor: 0.735