Penicillamine-induced ocular myasthenia gravis in rheumatoid arthritis

J Clin Neuroophthalmol. 1990 Sep;10(3):201-5.

Abstract

We report a case of a 47-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis who developed ocular myasthenia gravis during penicillamine treatment. Her serum contained elevated titers of acetylcholine receptor antibodies, and her symptoms resolved 8 weeks after discontinuation of penicillamine. We review the clinical and laboratory features of this syndrome of penicillamine-induced myasthenia gravis and discuss its pathophysiology and treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / complications*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / physiopathology
  • Diplopia / chemically induced
  • Diplopia / complications
  • Diplopia / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Myasthenia Gravis / chemically induced*
  • Myasthenia Gravis / complications
  • Myasthenia Gravis / physiopathology
  • Ocular Motility Disorders / chemically induced*
  • Ocular Motility Disorders / complications
  • Ocular Motility Disorders / physiopathology
  • Oculomotor Muscles / drug effects
  • Penicillamine / adverse effects*
  • Receptors, Cholinergic / blood

Substances

  • Receptors, Cholinergic
  • Penicillamine