Effect of thymectomy on myasthenia gravis and autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura in a 13-year-old girl

P H Jansen; W O Renier; G de Vaan; P Reekers; D M Vingerhoets; F J Gabreëls

doi:10.1007/BF02467359

Effect of thymectomy on myasthenia gravis and autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura in a 13-year-old girl

Eur J Pediatr. 1987 Nov;146(6):587-9. doi: 10.1007/BF02467359.

Authors

P H Jansen¹, W O Renier, G de Vaan, P Reekers, D M Vingerhoets, F J Gabreëls

Affiliation

¹ Institute of Child Neurology, St. Radbound Hospital, Catholic University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

PMID: 2962873
DOI: 10.1007/BF02467359

Abstract

We report the association of myasthenia gravis (MG) and autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (AITP) in a 13-year-old girl. The co-existence of these autoimmune diseases is rare in adults and, to our knowledge, never described in children. In our patient thymectomy had a therapeutic effect on both MG and AITP, suggesting a altered T-cell function as a pathogenic factor of major importance in both affections.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Autoimmune Diseases / complications
Autoimmune Diseases / surgery
Female
Humans
Immunoglobulin G / analysis
Myasthenia Gravis / complications
Myasthenia Gravis / immunology
Myasthenia Gravis / surgery*
Platelet Count
Purpura, Thrombocytopenic / complications
Purpura, Thrombocytopenic / immunology
Purpura, Thrombocytopenic / surgery*
T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology
T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology
Thymectomy*

Substances

Immunoglobulin G