[Prolonged neuromuscular blockade during a D. penicillamine-induced myasthenia (author's transl)].

The authors report a D. Penicillamine-induced myasthenia gravis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis. The disorder was revealed by a postoperative respiratory depression which could be attributed to the aggravation of the neuromuscular blockade by the muscle relaxants. D. Penicillamine-induced myasthenia gravis is now well known. The onset of such an accident after anaesthesia of patient treated with D. Penicillamine is a potential risk. Management of these patients in anaesthesia must be similar to the management of patients with classic myasthenia gravis.