Comorbid HIV and myasthenia gravis: case report and review of the literature

J Clin Neuromuscul Dis. 2010 Dec;12(2):80-4. doi: 10.1097/CND.0b013e3181fb1be7.

Abstract

A 27-year-old woman without known risk factors contracted HIV and was given highly active antiretroviral therapy in 2006. She subsequently developed myasthenia gravis (MG) that responded to treatment with pyridostigmine bromide and azathioprine. The medical literature, consisting primarily of case reports, indicates that MG occurs in relatively immunocompetent HIV-infected persons who generally present with mild MG symptoms. As such, we recommend a high index of suspicion for MG in HIV-infected patients presenting with fatigue and weakness, especially those receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / adverse effects
  • Comorbidity / trends
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Myasthenia Gravis / chemically induced
  • Myasthenia Gravis / epidemiology*
  • Myasthenia Gravis / immunology*