Primary CNS lymphoma complicating treatment of myasthenia gravis with mycophenolate mofetil

Neurology. 2005 Aug 23;65(4):639-41. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000173031.56429.04.

Abstract

Mycophenolate mofetil (MM), an immunosuppressant used after organ transplantation, is also used for treatment of autoimmune myasthenia gravis (MG). A patient with generalized MG was effectively managed with MM but developed CNS lymphoma after 3 years of treatment. Primary CNS lymphoma regressed on withdrawal of MM. Despite minimal short-term side effects and apparent efficacy, chronic treatment of MG with MM may be associated with increased risk of lymphoproliferative disorders.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Brain Neoplasms / chemically induced*
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Brain Neoplasms / immunology
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / immunology
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Frontal Lobe / pathology
  • Frontal Lobe / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular / drug effects
  • Immunity, Cellular / immunology
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / adverse effects*
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / chemically induced*
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / drug therapy
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / immunology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Myasthenia Gravis / complications*
  • Myasthenia Gravis / drug therapy*
  • Myasthenia Gravis / immunology
  • Mycophenolic Acid / adverse effects
  • Mycophenolic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • Parietal Lobe / pathology
  • Parietal Lobe / physiopathology
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use
  • Pyridostigmine Bromide / therapeutic use
  • Rituximab
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Rituximab
  • Mycophenolic Acid
  • Pyridostigmine Bromide
  • Prednisone