Efgartigimod therapy for immune checkpoint inhibitor–associated myasthenia gravis with myositis: a case report

Abstract The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has transformed cancer therapy, but their association with immune-related adverse events presents a new and complex challenge for clinicians. In this report, we present the case of a 60-year-old Han Chinese woman who developed myasthenia gra...

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Main Authors: Feiteng Qi, Qi Sun, Haifeng Wang, Yong Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Neurology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-025-04288-0
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author Feiteng Qi
Qi Sun
Haifeng Wang
Yong Zhang
author_facet Feiteng Qi
Qi Sun
Haifeng Wang
Yong Zhang
author_sort Feiteng Qi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has transformed cancer therapy, but their association with immune-related adverse events presents a new and complex challenge for clinicians. In this report, we present the case of a 60-year-old Han Chinese woman who developed myasthenia gravis (MG) with myositis after pembrolizumab treatment for breast cancer. The patient presented with ptosis, slurred speech, limb weakness, and ocular fixation. Her creatine kinase level was elevated but she reported no muscle pain. The patient was diagnosed with ICI-associated MG with myositis. Before presenting to us, the patient had received low doses of intravenous methylprednisolone followed by oral prednisone, but her symptoms had continued to worsen. Her muscle strength improved significantly after we treated her with efgartigimod. This report is the first description of efgartigimod use in the treatment of ICI-associated MG with myositis, a new strategy for the treatment of this disease.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1471-2377
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher BMC
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series BMC Neurology
spelling doaj-art-7e6387ddaabe44c8aa62a52fb1a1c04f2025-08-20T04:01:35ZengBMCBMC Neurology1471-23772025-07-012511410.1186/s12883-025-04288-0Efgartigimod therapy for immune checkpoint inhibitor–associated myasthenia gravis with myositis: a case reportFeiteng Qi0Qi Sun1Haifeng Wang2Yong Zhang3Department of Neurology, Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili HospitalDepartment of Neurology, Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili HospitalDepartment of Neurology, Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili HospitalDepartment of Neurology, The People’s Hospital of XinchangAbstract The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has transformed cancer therapy, but their association with immune-related adverse events presents a new and complex challenge for clinicians. In this report, we present the case of a 60-year-old Han Chinese woman who developed myasthenia gravis (MG) with myositis after pembrolizumab treatment for breast cancer. The patient presented with ptosis, slurred speech, limb weakness, and ocular fixation. Her creatine kinase level was elevated but she reported no muscle pain. The patient was diagnosed with ICI-associated MG with myositis. Before presenting to us, the patient had received low doses of intravenous methylprednisolone followed by oral prednisone, but her symptoms had continued to worsen. Her muscle strength improved significantly after we treated her with efgartigimod. This report is the first description of efgartigimod use in the treatment of ICI-associated MG with myositis, a new strategy for the treatment of this disease.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-025-04288-0EfgartigimodImmune checkpoint inhibitorMyasthenia GravisMyositis
spellingShingle Feiteng Qi
Qi Sun
Haifeng Wang
Yong Zhang
Efgartigimod therapy for immune checkpoint inhibitor–associated myasthenia gravis with myositis: a case report
BMC Neurology
Efgartigimod
Immune checkpoint inhibitor
Myasthenia Gravis
Myositis
title Efgartigimod therapy for immune checkpoint inhibitor–associated myasthenia gravis with myositis: a case report
title_full Efgartigimod therapy for immune checkpoint inhibitor–associated myasthenia gravis with myositis: a case report
title_fullStr Efgartigimod therapy for immune checkpoint inhibitor–associated myasthenia gravis with myositis: a case report
title_full_unstemmed Efgartigimod therapy for immune checkpoint inhibitor–associated myasthenia gravis with myositis: a case report
title_short Efgartigimod therapy for immune checkpoint inhibitor–associated myasthenia gravis with myositis: a case report
title_sort efgartigimod therapy for immune checkpoint inhibitor associated myasthenia gravis with myositis a case report
topic Efgartigimod
Immune checkpoint inhibitor
Myasthenia Gravis
Myositis
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-025-04288-0
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