Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
9188040 | Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery | 2005 | 4 Pages |
Abstract
Thirteen patients with myasthenia gravis, unresponsive to prednisone and cyclosporin after thymectomy, received KF506 (tacrolimus) for 12 months, at starting doses of 0.1Â mg/kg per day b.i.d. and then adjusted to achieve plasma concentrations between 7 and 8Â ng/mL. The doses of prednisone were progressively reduced and finally discontinued. Anti-acetylcholine antibodies and myasthenia gravis score for disease severity decreased significantly and muscular strength increased by 37%. All patients achieved pharmacological remission, 11 were asymptomatic and two had minimal weakness of eyelid closure. Tacrolimus was well tolerated and appears a suitable approach after unsuccessful treatment with conventional immunosuppressants in patients with disabling myasthenia.
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Authors
José M. Ponseti, Jamal Azem, José M. Fort, AgustÃn Codina, J. Bruno Montoro, Manuel Armengol,