Longstanding and Refractory Anti-Muscle Specific Tyrosine Kinase Antibody-Associated Myasthenia Gravis (Anti-MuSK-MG) in a Child Successfully Treated with Rituximab

J Binocul Vis Ocul Motil. 2019 Jan-Mar;69(1):26-29. doi: 10.1080/2576117X.2019.1578164. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

Abstract

Anti-muscle specific tyrosine kinase antibody-associated myasthenia gravis (MuSK-MG) is a rare subtype of MG characterized by more frequent relapses and a clinical course that is refractory to standard treatments. Rituximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting CD20+ B cells, has been used effectively in the adult population to achieve stable remission. We describe a pediatric patient with MuSK-MG who demonstrated an excellent response to rituximab after failing standard therapy.

Keywords: MuSK; Myasthenia gravis; pediatric; rituximab; seronegative.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Autoantibodies / blood*
  • Child
  • Electromyography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Myasthenia Gravis / drug therapy
  • Myasthenia Gravis / immunology*
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / immunology*
  • Receptors, Cholinergic / immunology*
  • Remission Induction
  • Rituximab / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Receptors, Cholinergic
  • Rituximab
  • MUSK protein, human
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases