Journal
MUSCLE & NERVE
Volume 57, Issue 4, Pages 603-609Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1002/mus.25965
Keywords
AChR; juvenile myasthenia gravis; MuSK; immunoadsorption; rituximab; seronegative
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IntroductionIn this study we determined the clinical, paraclinical, and treatment-related features of juvenile myasthenia gravis (JMG) as well as the clinical course in a cohort of French children. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study of 40 patients with JMG at 2 French pediatric neurology departments from April 2004 to April 2014. ResultsAmong the patients, 70% had generalized JMG, 52% had positive acetylcholine receptor antibodies, 8% had muscle-specific kinase antibodies, and 40% were seronegative. Treatment with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors was effective and sufficient in 47% of patients. The 6 patients with generalized JMG treated with rituximab and/or immunoadsorption showed improvement. Thirty percent of the patients required hospitalization in an intensive care unit during follow-up (mean 4.7 years). Remission without treatment occurred in 18% of patients. DiscussionAs with adults, JMG has high morbidity, particularly among children with generalized symptoms, and rituximab should be considered early in the course of the disease as a second-line treatment. Muscle Nerve57: 603-609, 2018
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