Abstract
The authors report a prospective pilot trial of etanercept in corticosteroid-dependent autoimmune myasthenia gravis. Eleven patients were enrolled, with eight completing the 6-month trial. Two patients were withdrawn owing to disease worsening, and one patient was withdrawn because of an erythematous skin rash. Six of the eight patients who completed the trial improved, based on quantitative measures of muscle strength and lowering of corticosteroid requirement.
Publication types
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Clinical Trial
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Autoantibodies / blood
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Autoantibodies / immunology
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Drug Administration Schedule
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Etanercept
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Female
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Humans
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Immunoglobulin G / administration & dosage
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Immunoglobulin G / adverse effects
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Immunoglobulin G / therapeutic use*
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Immunosuppressive Agents / administration & dosage
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Immunosuppressive Agents / adverse effects
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Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
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Injections, Subcutaneous
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Myasthenia Gravis / blood
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Myasthenia Gravis / drug therapy*
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Myasthenia Gravis / immunology
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Pilot Projects
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Prednisone / administration & dosage
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Prednisone / therapeutic use
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Receptors, Cholinergic / immunology
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Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / administration & dosage
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Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / therapeutic use*
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Severity of Illness Index
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Treatment Outcome
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors
Substances
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Autoantibodies
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Immunoglobulin G
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Immunosuppressive Agents
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Receptors, Cholinergic
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Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
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Etanercept
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Prednisone