J Korean Neurol Assoc.
2000 Jul;18(4):508-511.
A Case of Myasthenia Gravis associated with Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Neurology, National Medical Center.
- 2Department of neurology, Yonsei University College of Medicine.
- 3Department of Neurology, Lee & Jin's Medical Clinic.
Abstract
- Myasthenia gravis has been associated with a variety of autoimmune diseases, but the association of myasthenia gravis with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura has been rarely reported. A previously healthy 33-year-old female presented with a 10-month history of easy fatigability, motor weakness, diplopia and menorrhage. Clinical and labora-tory findings supported the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. After a thymecto-my, there were surprising improvements not only in muscle strength, but also of thrombocytopenia. Though this associ ?ation may be incidental, the patient's progress suggests that idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura may be closely relat-ed to myasthenia gravis immunologically because both diseases developed simultaneously and showed good therapeu-tic responses after a thymectomy.
