Perioperative management of kidney transplantation in patients with myasthenia gravis: a case report with literature review

Abstract Background Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease with the disorder of the neuromuscular junction, characterized by muscle weakness and easy fatigue. The disease is associated with the development of a myasthenic crisis caused by invasiveness or other factors. MG treatment includes...

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Main Authors: Ayaka Saitoh, Kohei Unagami, Takahiro Inoue, Yu Kijima, Daigo Okada, Miyuki Furusawa, Kumiko Kitajima, Toshihito Hirai, Kazuya Omoto, Tomokazu Shimizu, Masashi Inui, Junichi Hoshino, Norio Hanafusa, Toshio Takagi, Hideki Ishida
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-06-01
Series:Renal Replacement Therapy
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s41100-025-00639-2
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Summary:Abstract Background Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease with the disorder of the neuromuscular junction, characterized by muscle weakness and easy fatigue. The disease is associated with the development of a myasthenic crisis caused by invasiveness or other factors. MG treatment includes immunosuppressants and blood purification therapy, similar to the immunosuppressive management in kidney transplantation (KTx). We performed KTx in patients with MG. Case presentation A female patient with chronic renal failure had already been diagnosed with MG, and she had been treated with tacrolimus (TAC) and methylprednisolone (MP). Immunoadsorption therapy was performed twice weekly along with hemodialysis therapy. At 57 years of age, the patient underwent ABO-compatible, donor-specific antibody-positive living donor KTx. TAC, mycophenolate mofetil, MP, basiliximab, and rituximab were administered as immunosuppressants. Plasmapheresis and intravenous immunoglobulins were administered prior to KTx. Conclusions In addition to perioperative invasiveness, a postoperative urinary tract infection had occurred, raising concerns regarding the onset of a crisis. However, the impact of plasmapheresis and other immunosuppressive therapies may have had a positive influence on the perioperative management in this case.
ISSN:2059-1381