Pure RBC aplasia and myasthenia gravis. Coexistence of two diseases associated with thymoma

Arch Intern Med. 1983 Mar;143(3):543-6.

Abstract

Pure RBC aplasia (PRCA) and myasthenia gravis (MG) are occasionally associated with thymoma, although the occurrence of all three in a single patient is rare. We describe a patient in whom PRCA and MG occurred in conjunction with the presence of serum autoantibodies, evidence for a serum inhibitor of erythropoiesis, and elevation of circulating thymosin alpha 1. Although a thymoma could not be detected before death, postmortem examination of the mediastinum found scattered cells within a nodule, suggestive of a lymphoepithelial thymic neoplasm.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anemia, Aplastic / complications*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Myasthenia Gravis / complications*
  • Thymoma / complications*
  • Thymoma / physiopathology