A case of myasthenia gravis aggravated and diagnosed after repeat cesaerian section.

Kim, Yun Young; Choi, Young Joon; Lee, Bo Yeon; Lee, Seon Gyeong; Huh, Chu Yeop; Kim, Seung Bo

Case Report

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 2005;48(2):473-479.
Published online February 1, 2005.

A case of myasthenia gravis aggravated and diagnosed after repeat cesaerian section.

Yun Young Kim, Young Joon Choi, Bo Yeon Lee, Seon Gyeong Lee, Chu Yeop Huh, Seung Bo Kim

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Kyunghee University, Seoul, Korea. sabistorm@hanmail.net

Abstract

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder affecting the neuromuscular junction. It may considerably affect the course of the pregnancy and cause serious compications in both the mother and the infant. Antibodies to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are the cause of the disturbant nerve impulse transmission to muscle fibers. The clinical state at the beginning of pregnancy does not predict the occurrence of exacerbations or remissions. Each pregnancy has its effect on myasthenia gravis symptoms and does not predict the course of subsequent pregnancies. We experienced a patient received respiratory support because of poor ventilation after repeat caesarean section, but she recovered without complications soon. Two days later after operation, she complained of dysphasia, dysarthria. Then, Tensilon test and acetylcholine receptor antibody test were done. She was diagnosed as myasthenia gravis and administered pyridostigmine as therapeutic dose. We present this case with brief review of the concerned literatures.

Key Words: Myasthenia gravis, Pregnancy