Clinical Neurology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Udine University Hospital, Piazzale S. Maria Della Misericordia 15, 33100, Udine, Italy.
Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, Udine, Italy.
J Neurol. 2023 Feb;270(2):601-609. doi: 10.1007/s00415-022-11472-6. Epub 2022 Nov 9.
We report the case of a 19-year-old female patient who developed Myasthenia Gravis 13 days after SARS-CoV-2 infection with positive RT-PCR testing. Her symptoms initially involved the oculo-bulbar district, but they gradually worsened in 3 months converting into a generalized form of Myasthenia Gravis complicated with a myasthenic crisis. A high level of anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies was found in the serum, while anti-MuSK antibodies were negative; Repetitive Nerve Stimulation and Single-fiber Electromyography were suggestive of Myasthenia Gravis. Intravenous immunoglobulin courses and specific therapy were able to improve her symptoms, but thymic resection was needed to control the disease. This is a report of new-onset Myasthenia Gravis correlated to COVID-19 in which thymic resection was described and the histologic analysis of the thymus was performed showing thymic hyperplasia despite negative thoracic Magnetic Resonance Imaging. SARS-CoV-2 infection releases inflammatory cytokines that could dysregulate the immune system and lead to Myasthenia Gravis in susceptible subjects.
我们报告了一例 19 岁女性患者,她在 SARS-CoV-2 感染后 13 天出现重症肌无力,RT-PCR 检测呈阳性。她的症状最初涉及眼-球肌区,但在 3 个月内逐渐恶化,转化为全身性重症肌无力,并伴有肌无力危象。血清中发现高水平的抗乙酰胆碱受体抗体,而抗 MuSK 抗体阴性;重复神经刺激和单纤维肌电图提示重症肌无力。静脉注射免疫球蛋白和特异性治疗能够改善她的症状,但需要胸腺切除术来控制疾病。这是一例与 COVID-19 相关的新发重症肌无力病例,描述了胸腺切除术,并对胸腺进行了组织学分析,显示胸腺增生,尽管胸部磁共振成像呈阴性。SARS-CoV-2 感染释放的炎症细胞因子可能会使免疫系统失调,导致易感患者出现重症肌无力。