The Effect of Whole Body Irradiation for the Treatment of Myasthenia Gravis

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 14(1); 1996 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 1996;14(1): 197-205.

중증근무력증 치료에 대한 전신방사선요법의 효과

이영배, 홍경훈, 김명권, 김희태, 김승현, 김주한, 김명호

한양대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실

The Effect of Whole Body Irradiation for the Treatment of Myasthenia Gravis

Young Bae Lee, M.D., Kyoung Hoon Hong, M.D., Myung Kwon Kim, M.D., Hee Tae Kim, M.D., Seung Hyun Kim, M.D., Ju Han Kim, M.D., Myung Ho Kim, M.D.

Department of neurology, Hanyang university Hospital

Abstract

This study is designed to evaluate the effect of low-dose whole body irradiation (WBI) for treatment of myasthenia gravis(MG) and changes of immunological parameters. According to MG protocol of low dose WBI, eleven patients were selected and followed up for at least one year. Clinical status and immunological parameters were assessed at the time of pretreatment (baseline) and 1, 2, 3, 6, 12 months after initial dose irradiation. The improvement began five weeks after WBI and lasted for 12-month follow-up in 7 patients (good responders) Clinical improvement and immunological changes were more pronounced in good responders. So, it is suggested that low dose WBI may have the role in the treatment of the MG as an another therapeutic modality.