Coexistence of Epilepsy and Myasthenia Gravis: Report of Four Patients and Review of the Literature
Journal
Acta Neurologica Taiwanica
Journal Volume
12
Journal Issue
4
Pages
181-186
Date Issued
2003
Author(s)
Abstract
Patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) have a higher incidence of epilepsy or seizure disorders than general population. Coexistence of MG and epilepsy seems not simply due to chance association. MG was not infrequently considered as a complication of long-term anticonvulsant therapy. In National Taiwan University Hospital, we found 4 out of 251 MG patients who suffered from epilepsy. MG manifestations of these patients did not differ from those in MG patients without epilepsy. There were increased levels of anti-body to acetylcholine receptors and association with thymus hyperplasia or thyroid disease. In the literature, we found 25 reported cases with MG and epilepsy. No specific type of epilepsy was linked to coexistence of MG and epilepsy. Possible causes for MG in association with epilepsy are multiple, including drug-induced depression at the neuromuscular junction, anticonvulsant-related immunological changes, and unknown common mechanism to both diseases.
SDGs
Other Subjects
anticonvulsive agent; cholinergic receptor antibody; phenobarbital; phenytoin; primidone; adult; article; depression; disease association; epilepsy; female; human; incidence; major clinical study; male; myasthenia gravis; neuromuscular junction disorder; seizure; thymus hyperplasia; thyroid disease
Type
journal article