Refractory Myasthenia Gravis and Concurrent Alopecia Areata Post-Thymectomy With Improvements After Cortisone Taper: A Case Report

January 2024 in “ Case Reports in Endocrinology ”

Baraa Alghalyini, H. Dahman, Abdul Rehman Zia Zaidi, Fathima Aasiya Tehreemah Raziq, Mohammad Amin Alswes

alopecia areata cortisone thymectomy immunological changes

Studysummary In this case report, significant improvements in a 58-year-old male with severe refractory myasthenia gravis and concurrent alopecia areata were observed following a cortisone taper, suggesting a potential therapeutic role, especially after thymectomy.

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A 58-year-old male with refractory myasthenia gravis and concurrent alopecia areata showed significant improvement in symptoms after a cortisone taper following thymectomy. Initial treatments were ineffective, but reducing cortisone from 50 mg to 10 mg led to marked improvement in both conditions, with alopecia nearly resolved. This case highlights the complex relationship between myasthenia gravis, thymectomy, and autoimmune conditions like alopecia areata, suggesting a shared immunological basis and the importance of personalized treatment approaches.

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research Taste Disorders and Alopecia in Myasthenia Gravis

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The researchers reported that non-motor symptoms like taste disorders and alopecia are associated with myasthenia gravis, particularly in severe cases and those linked to thymoma.

research Autoimmune Alopecia Areata Due to Thymoma Without Myasthenia Gravis: A Case Report

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This case report describes a rare instance of thymoma associated with alopecia areata in a 60-year-old woman who had no signs of myasthenia gravis, highlighting the need for thoracic surgeons to consider alopecia in such cases due to its impact on quality of life.

research Cancer Risk in Patients with Alopecia Areata: A Nationwide Population-Based Matched Cohort Study

15 citations , March 2018 in “Cancer Medicine”

This study found that alopecia areata patients had a slightly decreased overall cancer risk, with significantly lower risks for some cancers but higher risks for lymphoma, breast, kidney, and urinary bladder cancers.

research Overview of Alopecia Areata

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This article reviews current understanding of alopecia areata, its genetic and immune factors, and discusses ongoing research and treatment development, without presenting new experimental results.

research Overlooked Non-Motor Symptoms in Myasthenia Gravis

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This review discusses non-motor symptoms in patients with thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis, suggesting these symptoms, which can be treatable, often go overlooked despite affecting multiple organs.

research Alopecia Areata: An Autoimmune Disease Causing Hair Loss

421 citations , April 2012 in “The New England Journal of Medicine”

Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune condition causing hair loss with no cure and treatments that often don't work well.

research Genome-Wide Association Study in Alopecia Areata Implicates Both Innate and Adaptive Immunity

717 citations , June 2010 in “Nature”

This study identified key genetic regions associated with alopecia areata, highlighting both acquired and innate immune involvement, with a novel link to the upregulation of ULBP ligands in autoimmune disease.

research Alopecia Areata Update

244 citations , January 2010 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”

This review discusses treatment options for alopecia areata and suggests tailored treatment plans, noting the challenges posed by spontaneous remission and limited high-quality clinical trials.

research Alopecia Areata Associated With Myasthenia Gravis And Thymoma: A Case Of Alopecia With Marked Improvement Following Thymectomy And High-Level Prednisolone Administration

21 citations , December 1997 in “The Journal of Dermatology”

In this case report, a 57-year-old Japanese woman with alopecia areata, associated with myasthenia gravis and thymoma, showed significant improvement after undergoing thymectomy and receiving high doses of glucocorticosteroids.