The cancer immunotherapy Imfinzi (durvalumab) may, in rare cases, trigger myasthenic crises — a serious complication of myasthenia gravis (MG) that can lead to respiratory failure. A recent case report described how an 82-year-old woman on MG remission experienced a myasthenic crisis following treatment with Imfinzi for advanced-stage lung cancer.
A combination of glucocorticoids and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is more effective at normalizing immune responses and easing disease symptoms in children with ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG) than glucocorticoids alone, a study showed. The combination also could allow for a shorter duration and lower dose of glucocorticoids, also known…
Careful administration and monitoring of anesthetic medications may prevent complications in people with subclinical myasthenia gravis (MG) undergoing surgery, a case report suggests. The findings, concerning a woman receiving surgery to remove a thymoma — a tumor of the thymus — suggest that anesthetic management of subclinical MG may…
Ultomiris (ravulizumab) has been recommended for approval in the European Union (EU) as an add-on therapy for most adults with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). The recommendation by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), an arm of the European Medicines Agency, specifically covers gMG patients who are positive…
Plasma exchange combined with intravenous, or into-the-vein, immunoglobulin (IVIG) appears to be safe, and better than plasma therapy alone at easing the symptoms of myasthenia gravis (MG) and boosting the immunity of patients, a study suggests. These findings offer what researchers called a “reference for clinical decision-making” — particularly…
The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine was safe and did not particularly worsen clinical symptoms in people with myasthenia gravis (MG), a Spanish study reported. Patients developed a robust immune response after receiving the two recommended doses, despite being on immunosuppressive therapies. Additionally, no participant developed COVID-19 throughout the study. The…
Nonprofits, scientists, governmental organizations, and the rare disease drug development industry have long cited 7,000 as the average number of rare diseases in the world. But a new analysis shows there are as many as 10,867 rare diseases globally. And that…
Zai Lab’s application seeking approval of efgartigimod in China to treat adults with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) has been accepted by the country’s regulatory agency, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). “We are pleased to have the NMPA’s acceptance of the [application] filing for efgartigimod alfa injection…
A man developed signs of myasthenia gravis (MG) with eye symptoms about a month after receiving the first shot of Oxford-AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine, a case study reports. “This case report implies that COVID-19 vaccination may cause myasthenia gravis with ocular symptoms,” the researchers wrote. “But we should also consider…
Generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) may be associated with a deficiency in a type of immune cell called myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), a study suggests, and that restoring their function and increasing their numbers may help reduce symptoms. Treatment with immunosuppressants resulted in an expansion of MDSCs, which was linked…
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