Devin E Prior1, Emily Nurre1, Stephanie L Roller1, David Kline2, Ramit Panara1, Amro M Stino1, John A Davis3, Miriam L Freimer1,4, W David Arnold1,4,5. 1. Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA. 2. Center for Biostatistics, Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA. 3. Department of Infectious Disease, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA. 4. Department of Neurology, Division of Neuromuscular Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 395 West 12th Avenue Columbus, Ohio, 43210, USA. 5. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to identify infections in patients with myasthenia gravis, dermatomyositis, and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, and to investigate the relationship between infection and immunomodulation. METHODS: A retrospective chart review examined 631 patients with myasthenia gravis (n = 358), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (n = 124), and dermatomyositis (n = 149) patients over a 10-year time period. RESULTS: Infection rates were similar at approximately 19% in all 3 diseases. Of the infections in which a causative organism was identified, pneumonia, sepsis, and opportunistic infections were the leading diagnoses. A multivariate model demonstrated a significant association between infection and an increased dose of plasma exchange, mycophenolate mofetil, and corticosteroid therapy. DISCUSSION: There are few large studies investigating rates of infections in patients with autoimmune neuromuscular disorders and the relationship to immunomodulation. This study not only demonstrates the remarkably similar infection rates across the 3 diseases studied, but also shows their relationship to commonly used immunotherapies. Muscle Nerve 57: 927-931, 2018.
INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to identify infections in patients with myasthenia gravis, dermatomyositis, and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, and to investigate the relationship between infection and immunomodulation. METHODS: A retrospective chart review examined 631 patients with myasthenia gravis (n = 358), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (n = 124), and dermatomyositis (n = 149) patients over a 10-year time period. RESULTS:Infection rates were similar at approximately 19% in all 3 diseases. Of the infections in which a causative organism was identified, pneumonia, sepsis, and opportunistic infections were the leading diagnoses. A multivariate model demonstrated a significant association between infection and an increased dose of plasma exchange, mycophenolate mofetil, and corticosteroid therapy. DISCUSSION: There are few large studies investigating rates of infections in patients with autoimmune neuromuscular disorders and the relationship to immunomodulation. This study not only demonstrates the remarkably similar infection rates across the 3 diseases studied, but also shows their relationship to commonly used immunotherapies. Muscle Nerve 57: 927-931, 2018.
Authors: G O Skeie; S Apostolski; A Evoli; N E Gilhus; I Illa; L Harms; D Hilton-Jones; A Melms; J Verschuuren; H W Horge Journal: Eur J Neurol Date: 2010-04-12 Impact factor: 6.089