Document Detail


Five-year follow-up with low-dose tacrolimus in patients with myasthenia gravis.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21035148     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Process    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an antibody-mediated autoimmune disease of the neuromuscular junction, and prednisolone (PSL) and immunosuppressive drugs are available for treatment. Tacrolimus, a macrolide that suppresses the immune system, is used as a second-line treatment for MG. There have been several reports of the effects of tacrolimus over a few years of follow-up. Here, we report data from 9 patients with steroid-dependent generalized MG treated with low-dose tacrolimus (2-3 mg/day) for 5 years. Following treatment with tacrolimus, mean MG-activities of daily living score improved from 4.6 at baseline to 3.3 at 5 years after initiation of treatment. Mean dose of PSL could also be reduced, from 24.0 mg/day at baseline to 10.2 mg/day at 5 years, although there were no cases of total withdrawal of PSL. By contrast, 5 of the 9 patients experienced exacerbation of symptoms and transient increases in PSL dose during the 5-year period. Tacrolimus is an important option for treatment of MG; however, careful management is needed for long-term treatment with this drug.
Authors:
Naoya Minami; Naoto Fujiki; Shizuki Doi; Koji Shima; Masaaki Niino; Seiji Kikuchi; Hidenao Sasaki
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article     Date:  2010-10-29
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of the neurological sciences     Volume:  300     ISSN:  1878-5883     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Neurol. Sci.     Publication Date:  2011 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-12-24     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0375403     Medline TA:  J Neurol Sci     Country:  Netherlands    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  59-62     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Hokkaido Medical Center, Sapporo, Japan.
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