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Muscle weakness in a girl with autoimmune...
Journal article

Muscle weakness in a girl with autoimmune hepatitis and Graves’ disease

Abstract

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic hepatic autoimmune disease of unknown etiology associated with inflammatory changes and autoantibodies. The combination of AIH, Grave’s disease, and myasthenia gravis (MG) is rare, with only one other case reported. We report a pediatric patient with AIH type 2 and Grave’s disease who developed MG whilst on a treatment with corticosteroids. A 13-year-old girl, diagnosed with thyrotoxicosis, was identified as having AIH type 2. During the course of her therapy, she developed muscle weakness. Investigations revealed increased anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies and her electromyopgraphy (EMG) was characteristic for MG. Her course is described here. This case highlights the importance of investigating muscle weakness in severely ill hospitalized patients.

Authors

Sarkhy A; Persad R; Tarnopolsky M

Journal

European Journal of Pediatrics, Vol. 168, No. 2, pp. 241–243

Publisher

Springer Nature

Publication Date

February 1, 2009

DOI

10.1007/s00431-008-0738-6

ISSN

0340-6199

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