Autoimmune myasthenia gravis after coronary artery bypass surgery

Ann Thorac Surg. 2006 Feb;81(2):725-6. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2004.10.027.

Abstract

Myasthenia gravis is the most common disorder of neuromuscular transmission and is a heterogeneous disorder that is generally autoimmune, which is caused by an auto-antibody to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. We present a rare case of myasthenia gravis that occurred 8 weeks after a coronary artery bypass grafting operation. A 64-year-old man with multivessel coronary artery disease underwent myocardial revascularization. Severe myasthenic symptoms began 8 weeks after the operation and emergent mechanical ventilation was needed because of myasthenic crises. The serum anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody level was high. The details of this unusual patient are discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibody Formation
  • Autoimmune Diseases / etiology*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / pathology
  • Coronary Artery Bypass*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myasthenia Gravis / etiology*
  • Myasthenia Gravis / pathology
  • Postoperative Complications*
  • Receptors, Cholinergic / immunology
  • Respiration, Artificial
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Receptors, Cholinergic