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Nies JF, Hendrix C, Bartram MP, Spear R, Hagmann H, Benzing T, Kubacki T. Effectiveness and safety of immunoadsorption as a rescue treatment of inflammatory myopathies: report of three cases and literature review. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis 2024; 16:1759720X241250238. [PMID: 38764488 PMCID: PMC11102671 DOI: 10.1177/1759720x241250238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) summarizes rare, systemic autoimmune conditions primarily characterized by inflammatory damage to the skeletal muscle. Although primary damage occurs to the muscle, these IIM-related conditions involve other organs, including the skin, lungs, upper gastrointestinal tract, joints, and heart. While many patients have an adequate response to immunosuppressive treatment, some patients develop rapidly progressive and treatment-resistant life-threatening courses. Treatment-resistant IIM is challenging for the treating physician and requires interdisciplinary and individualized treatment approaches. Extracorporeal therapy is one option for rescue therapy, with immunoadsorption (IA) having proven more effective than plasma exchange regarding the removal of circulating antibodies. Despite its efficacy and desirable safety profile, the clinical value of IA use in IIM is understudied with no controlled trials reported. Here, we present a review of the current knowledge regarding the management of treatment-resistant IIM and the cases of three patients with treatment-resistant IIM (two with dermatomyositis and one with immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy) who have successfully been treated with IA. All patients responded well to the therapy and experienced no IA-related complications. Taken together, we found IA to be a safe and effective treatment option in treatment-resistant IIM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasper F. Nies
- Department II of Internal Medicine and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Claudia Hendrix
- Department II of Internal Medicine and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Malte P. Bartram
- Department II of Internal Medicine and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Ryan Spear
- Department of Internal Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Henning Hagmann
- Department II of Internal Medicine and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Thomas Benzing
- Department II of Internal Medicine and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Torsten Kubacki
- Department II of Internal Medicine and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Kerpener Straße 62, Cologne 50924, Germany
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Chen J, Feng L, Li S, Wang H, Huang X, Shen C, Feng H. Therapeutic Plasma Exchange in AChR-Ab Positive Generalized Myasthenia Gravis: A Real World Study About Its Early Response. J Inflamm Res 2024; 17:2299-2308. [PMID: 38645879 PMCID: PMC11032135 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s455104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Since there is no clear priority or selection principle in the guidelines for myasthenia crisis, therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) and intravenous immunoglobulin are often administered randomly. However, it should be more prudent in taking TPE due to its higher cost and risk. Studying its early response factors is crucial for managing myasthenia crisis and can improve medical and economic benefits. Methods A prospective observational study was conducted, and patients classified as having "impending myasthenia crisis" or experiencing a myasthenia crisis and treated by TPE were included. The primary endpoint was the response after TPE. Univariate logistic regression analysis and repeated measurement were performed to analyze factors related to TPE efficacy. Results A total of 30 patients who treated with TPE as their fast-acting treatments were enrolled. After TPE, those whose QMGs and/or MGCs decreased by ≥5 points or ≥30% of the baseline were judged as "response group", accounting for 66.67% (20/30). Respiratory symptoms had a response rate of 72.00% (18/25), showing the most remarkable improvement. Meanwhile, extraocular symptoms were the least sensitive, with only 8.00% (2/25) showing efficacy. Thymoma (100.00% vs 50.00%, P=0.002) and a high concentration of AChR-Ab (37.37 nmol/L vs 25.4 nmol/L, P=0.039) were common in the early response group. Repeated measures showed significant changes in AChR-Ab and CD19+ B cells before and after TPE (all with P < 0.05). After treatment, the CD19+ B cells tended to decrease in the response group. Discussion These results indicated that, for AChR-Ab positive generalized MG, TPE can quickly improve respiratory symptoms. Thymoma and a high concentration of AChR-Ab before TPE predict an early better response. Additionally, TPE may work by decreasing AChR-Ab levels and inducing immune regulation. Future prospective and randomized controlled studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Chen
- Department of Neurology and Neurointensive Care Unit, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Li Feng
- Department of Neurology and Neurointensive Care Unit, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shiyin Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Haiyan Wang
- Department of Neurology and Neurointensive Care Unit, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xin Huang
- Department of Neurology and Neurointensive Care Unit, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Cunzhou Shen
- Department of Neurology and Neurointensive Care Unit, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huiyu Feng
- Department of Neurology and Neurointensive Care Unit, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
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Watanabe K, Ohashi S, Watanabe T, Kakinuma Y, Kinno R. Case report: Recovery from refractory myasthenic crisis to minimal symptom expression after add-on treatment with efgartigimod. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1321058. [PMID: 38318438 PMCID: PMC10838969 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1321058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Myasthenic crisis, a life-threatening exacerbation of myasthenia gravis, is a significant clinical challenge, particularly when refractory to standard therapies. Here, we described a case of myasthenic crisis in which the patient transitioned from refractory myasthenic crisis to minimal symptom expression after receiving add-on treatment with efgartigimod, a novel neonatal Fc receptor antagonist. A 54 years-old woman who was diagnosed with anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive myasthenia gravis experienced respiratory failure necessitating mechanical ventilation. Despite aggressive treatment with plasmapheresis, intravenous immunoglobulins, and high-dose corticosteroids, her condition continued to deteriorate, culminating in persistent myasthenic crisis. Efgartigimod was administered as salvage therapy. Remarkable improvement in neuromuscular function was observed within days, allowing for successful weaning from mechanical ventilation. Over the subsequent weeks, the patient's symptoms continued to ameliorate, ultimately reaching a state of minimal symptom expression. Serial assessments of her serum anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody titer showed a consistent decline in parallel with this clinical improvement. This case highlights efgartigimod's potential as an effective therapeutic option for refractory myasthenic crisis, offering new hope for patients facing this life-threatening condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Watanabe
- Division of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Shinichi Ohashi
- Respiratory Disease Center, Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Takuya Watanabe
- Division of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Yuki Kakinuma
- Division of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Ryuta Kinno
- Division of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital, Yokohama, Japan
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Kawama K, Warabi Y, Bokuda K, Kimura H, Takahashi K. Exacerbation of Thymoma-Associated Myasthenia Gravis Following Efgartigimod Treatment Related to Anti-acetylcholine Receptor Antibody Overshoot: A Report of Two Cases. Cureus 2023; 15:e50692. [PMID: 38229781 PMCID: PMC10791222 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.50692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Myasthenia gravis (MG), a chronic, autoimmune disease affecting the neuromuscular junction, arises from various autoantibodies, including those against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR). Recently, efgartigimod, a human IgG1 antibody Fc fragment engineered to reduce the pathogenic IgG autoantibody level, was developed as a treatment for MG. However, the long-term effects of the treatment are still unclear. The present report describes two novel cases of thymoma-associated MG exacerbation following efgartigimod treatment related to anti-AChR antibody overshoot. Both cases shared certain characteristics, including anti-AChR antibody positivity and post-thymectomy status. After a few cycles of efgartigimod treatment, their MG deteriorated, and their anti-AChR antibody titer exceeded the level before efgartigimod therapy. Prior studies show that anti-AChR antibody titer does not correlate with the disease severity of MG. However, previous studies have reported antibody overshoot following plasma exchange, which, like efgartigimod, reduces the level of plasma IgG and autoantibodies. Thus, MG exacerbation with anti-AChR antibody overshoot may be an adverse effect of both efgartigimod and plasma exchange. When clinical symptoms in patients with thymoma-associated MG receiving efgartigimod deteriorate despite low IgG, assessing the anti-AChR antibody level can be important for reconsidering the treatment strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kentaro Kawama
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Metropolitan Neurological Hospital, Tokyo, JPN
| | - Yoko Warabi
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Metropolitan Neurological Hospital, Tokyo, JPN
| | - Kota Bokuda
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Metropolitan Neurological Hospital, Tokyo, JPN
| | - Hideki Kimura
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Metropolitan Neurological Hospital, Tokyo, JPN
| | - Kazushi Takahashi
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Metropolitan Neurological Hospital, Tokyo, JPN
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Claytor B, Cho SM, Li Y. Myasthenic crisis. Muscle Nerve 2023. [PMID: 37114503 DOI: 10.1002/mus.27832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Myasthenic crisis (MC) is a life-threatening manifestation of myasthenia gravis (MG) defined by respiratory insufficiency that requires the use of invasive or non-invasive ventilation. This is often the result of respiratory muscle weakness but can also be due to bulbar weakness with upper airway collapse. MC occurs in approximately 15%-20% of patients with MG usually within the first 2 to 3 y of the disease course. Many crises have a specific trigger with respiratory infections being most common; however, no specific trigger is found in 30%-40% of patients. MG patients with a history of MC, severe disease, oropharyngeal weakness, muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) antibodies and thymoma appear to be at higher risk. Most episodes of MC do not occur suddenly, providing a window of opportunity for prevention. Immediate treatment is directed toward airway management and removing any identified triggers. Plasmapheresis is preferred over intravenous immune globulin as the treatments of choice for MC. The majority of patients are able to be weaned from mechanical ventilation within 1 mo and the outcomes of MC are generally favorable. The mortality rate in United States cohorts is less than 5% and mortality in MC seems to be driven by age and other medical co-morbidities. MC does not appear to affect long-term prognosis as many patients are able to eventually achieve good MG control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Claytor
- Neuromuscular Center, Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Sung-Min Cho
- Division of Neuroscience Critical Care, Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery, Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Yuebing Li
- Neuromuscular Center, Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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Total Plasma Exchange in Neuromuscular Junction Disorders—A Single-Center, Retrospective Analysis of the Efficacy, Safety and Potential Diagnostic Properties in Doubtful Diagnosis. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11154383. [PMID: 35955999 PMCID: PMC9369332 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11154383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuromuscular junction disorders (NJDs) are a heterogeneous group of diseases including myasthenia gravis (MG). In some cases, patients are present with myasthenic symptoms without evidence of autoimmune antibodies, making diagnosis challenging. Total plasma exchange (TPE) has proven efficacy in NJDs. The objective is to describe the safety and efficacy of TPE in NJD patients with questionable disease activity or uncertain diagnosis in order to assess the diagnostic potential of TPE. We report an observational, retrospective cohort study of clinical routine data. All the data were derived from the electronic medical records of the Department of Neurology at University Hospital Essen. We searched for patients with NJDs between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2021. Of the 303 patients who presented to the department with NJDs, 20 were treated with TPE; 9 patients did not show a measurable benefit from TPE (45%), 6 of whom were diagnosed with seronegative MG. Of these, 3 (50%) had long-standing ocular symptoms. There were decreases in the mean arterial pressure, hemoglobin, hematocrit and fibrinogen during treatment, which were not considered clinically relevant. In (seronegative) myasthenic patients, TPE may help to verify an uncertain diagnosis or to reveal possible muscle damage, allowing unnecessary therapy to be avoided.
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Al-Lahham T, Lacomis D. What is in the Neuromuscular Junction Literature? J Clin Neuromuscul Dis 2022; 23:189-200. [PMID: 35608642 DOI: 10.1097/cnd.0000000000000403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT This update covers a number of treatment topics starting with Fc receptor inhibitors and the Federal Drug Administration approval of efgartigimod. Some uncertainties regarding the use of corticosteroids are addressed, namely the risk of exacerbation with initiation of treatment and how to taper. The presence and potential importance of antibody overshoot following plasmapheresis is noted and the evolving increase in usefulness of acetylcholine receptor antibodies in diagnosing ocular myasthenia. Several recent series and case reports regarding coronavirus 2019 and myasthenia gravis are reviewed. The topics of myasthenia gravis and pregnancy, and another look at thymectomy in MG are provided. Finally, a couple of case reports on Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome concentrate on the ice pack test and an autoantibody association with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome in the same patient.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David Lacomis
- Departments of Neurology and
- Pathology (Neuropathology), University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
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Lee I, Sanders D. Rethinking the utility of acetylcholine receptor antibody titer as a pharmacodynamic biomarker for myasthenia gravis. Muscle Nerve 2021; 64:385-387. [PMID: 34287983 DOI: 10.1002/mus.27381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ikjae Lee
- The Neurological Institute of New York, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Donald Sanders
- Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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