Caring for a loved one with a rare disease, especially during these uncertain times, demands significant time, attention, patience, and dedication. To help meet that need, the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)’s Rare Caregiver Respite Program may be a helpful resource. The program seeks to give a well-deserved…
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A highly sensitive blood test detected disease-causing antibodies in a case of myasthenia gravis (MG) believed to be induced by COVID-19. The case underscores the importance of such diagnostic tools to detect disease markers that may be missed by the current approach in diagnosing…
Lower frequency of a specific subset of immune cells in the bloodstream may help identify myasthenia gravis (MG) in cases difficult to diagnose, specifically those testing negative for MG autoantibodies, a study suggests. Published in the journal Muscle & Nerve, the study, “Reduced plasmablast frequency is associated with…
Argenx has filed an application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting the approval of efgartigimod (ARGX-113) to treat generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). Similar approval requests are on track to be filed in Europe and Japan this year, Argenx stated in a recently released corporate update.
The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is seeking individuals willing to share real-life experiences with rare diseases to speak at its upcoming virtual Living Rare, Living Stronger NORD Patient and Family Forum. The interactive, patient-focused forum will be held online June 26-27. The deadline to apply for a…
Combination therapy of rituximab and plasma exchange reduced disease severity in nine patients with refractory myasthenia gravis, a case series reports. The case series, “Treatment of refractory myasthenia gravis by double‐filtration plasmapheresis and rituximab: A case series of nine patients and…
People with refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) who responded to Soliris (eculizumab) were able to reduce the use of immunosuppressive therapies, data from an extension study of the Phase 3 REGAIN trial showed. Tapering off immunosuppressants…
Myasthenia gravis (MG) can develop in people with polycythemia vera (PV), a type of blood cancer, even in the absence of thymomas — tumors of the thymus — a study reporting two cases suggests. The study, “Association of polycythemia vera with positive JAK2V617F mutation and myasthenia gravis: A…
Immune B-cells originating in the thymus continue to circulate in the blood after thymectomy, causing a diminished clinical response to treatment in people with myasthenia gravis (MG), a study has found. In a commentary…
After unanimous votes by the boards of directors of both companies, AstraZeneca has announced it will acquire Alexion Pharmaceuticals. If the acquisition gets all needed regulatory clearances, as well as approvals by the shareholders of both companies, the deal is expected to be finalized in the third quarter…
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