Abstract
Nine patients with severe myasthenia gravis, including ocular symptoms, who did not respond to anticholinesterase therapy were given prolonged courses of corticotrophin. In all patients except one there was an initial deterioration, sometimes necessitating assisted respiration, followed by a marked improvement which persisted for many weeks and occasionally months. It is concluded that corticotrophin should be continued for at least two weeks as the onset of the remission might be delayed. Repeated courses or small maintenance doses prolonged the remission. Fluid retention and hypokalaemia were common unwanted effects but necessitated stopping the treatment in only one patient.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Cape C. A., Utterback R. A. Treatment of myasthenia gravis with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH): massive short-term and maintenance treatment. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1969 Aug;32(4):290–296. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.32.4.290. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- FREYDBERG L. D. The place of corticotropin in the treatment of myasthenia gravis. Ann Intern Med. 1960 Apr;52:806–818. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-52-4-806. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Grob D., Namba T. Corticotropin in generalized myasthenia gravis. Effect of short, intensive courses. JAMA. 1966 Nov 14;198(7):703–707. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- MILLIKAN C. H., EATON L. M. Clinical-evaluation of ACTH and cortisone in myasthenia gravis. Neurology. 1951 Mar-Apr;1(2):145–152. doi: 10.1212/wnl.1.3.145. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- MOUNT F. W. ACTH FOR OCULAR MYASTHENIA. JAMA. 1964 Jul 6;189:55–55. doi: 10.1001/jama.1964.03070010061013. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- MOUNT F. W. CORTICOTROPIN IN TREATMENT OF OCULAR MYASTHENIA; A CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL. Arch Neurol. 1964 Aug;11:114–124. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1964.00460200010002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Osserman K. E., Genkins G. Studies in myasthenia gravis. Short-term massive corticotropin therapy. JAMA. 1966 Nov 14;198(7):699–702. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- PIEMME T. E. MYASTHENIA GRAVIS AND AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASE: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE INCLUDING A CASE REPORT OF THE COEXISTENCE OF MYASTHENIA AND SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS. Ann Intern Med. 1964 Jan;60:130–135. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-60-1-130. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- TORDA C., WOLFF H. G. Effects of administration of the adrenocorticotropic hormone on patients with myasthenia gravis. AMA Arch Neurol Psychiatry. 1951 Aug;66(2):163–170. doi: 10.1001/archneurpsyc.1951.02320080047004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Torda C., Wolff H. G. EFFECTS OF ADRENOCORTICOTROPHIC HORMONE ON NEURO-MUSCULAR FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH MYASTHENIA GRAVIS. J Clin Invest. 1949 Sep;28(5 Pt 2):1228–1235. doi: 10.1172/JCI102157. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- VAN DER GELD H., FELTKAMP T. E., OOSTERHUIS H. J. REACTIVITY OF MYASTHENIA GRAVIS SERUM GAMMA-GLOBULIN WITH SKELETAL MUSCLE AND THYMUS DEMONSTRATED BY IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1964 Mar;115:782–785. doi: 10.3181/00379727-115-29037. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- WHITE R. G., MARSHALL A. H. The autoimmune response in myasthenia gravis. Lancet. 1962 Jul 21;2(7247):120–123. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(62)90005-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- von Reis G., Liljestrand A., Matell G. Treatment of severe myasthenia gravis with large doses of ACTH. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1966 Jan 26;135(1):409–416. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1966.tb45487.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]