Myasthenia Gravis in Pregnancy: A Case Report

Objective. To present a case of maternal myasthenia gravis in pregnancy and give a systematic review of the literature. Case. We report the case of a 38-year-old parturient with a life-threatening complication of immune-mediated myasthenia gravis shortly after an elective cesarean section on patien...

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Main Authors: Sebastian Berlit, Benjamin Tuschy, Saskia Spaich, Marc Sütterlin, Regine Schaffelder
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/736024
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author Sebastian Berlit
Benjamin Tuschy
Saskia Spaich
Marc Sütterlin
Regine Schaffelder
author_facet Sebastian Berlit
Benjamin Tuschy
Saskia Spaich
Marc Sütterlin
Regine Schaffelder
author_sort Sebastian Berlit
collection DOAJ
description Objective. To present a case of maternal myasthenia gravis in pregnancy and give a systematic review of the literature. Case. We report the case of a 38-year-old parturient with a life-threatening complication of immune-mediated myasthenia gravis shortly after an elective cesarean section on patient's request under spinal anesthesia at 35 + 3 weeks of gestation. The newborn was transferred to the pediatric unit for surveillance and did not show any signs of muscular weakness in the course of time. The mother developed a respiratory insufficiency on the second day postpartum. The myasthenic crisis led to a progressive dyspnoea within minutes, which exacerbated in a secondary generalized seizure with cardiac-circulatory arrest. After successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the patient was transferred to intensive care. The interdisciplinary therapeutic approach included ventilatory assistance via endotracheal intubation, parenteral pyridostigmine, azathioprine, and steroids. By interdisciplinary measures, a stable state was regained. Conclusion. Myasthenia gravis especially when associated with pregnancy is a high-risk disease. As this disease predominantly occurs in women of reproductive age, it is important to be aware of this condition in obstetrics and its interdisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic management.
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spelling doaj-art-8be1606971644faa8a4e4df0d800162f2025-08-20T03:37:40ZengWileyCase Reports in Obstetrics and Gynecology2090-66842090-66922012-01-01201210.1155/2012/736024736024Myasthenia Gravis in Pregnancy: A Case ReportSebastian Berlit0Benjamin Tuschy1Saskia Spaich2Marc Sütterlin3Regine Schaffelder4Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, GermanyDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, GermanyDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, GermanyDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, GermanyDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Mannheim, 68167 Mannheim, GermanyObjective. To present a case of maternal myasthenia gravis in pregnancy and give a systematic review of the literature. Case. We report the case of a 38-year-old parturient with a life-threatening complication of immune-mediated myasthenia gravis shortly after an elective cesarean section on patient's request under spinal anesthesia at 35 + 3 weeks of gestation. The newborn was transferred to the pediatric unit for surveillance and did not show any signs of muscular weakness in the course of time. The mother developed a respiratory insufficiency on the second day postpartum. The myasthenic crisis led to a progressive dyspnoea within minutes, which exacerbated in a secondary generalized seizure with cardiac-circulatory arrest. After successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the patient was transferred to intensive care. The interdisciplinary therapeutic approach included ventilatory assistance via endotracheal intubation, parenteral pyridostigmine, azathioprine, and steroids. By interdisciplinary measures, a stable state was regained. Conclusion. Myasthenia gravis especially when associated with pregnancy is a high-risk disease. As this disease predominantly occurs in women of reproductive age, it is important to be aware of this condition in obstetrics and its interdisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic management.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/736024
spellingShingle Sebastian Berlit
Benjamin Tuschy
Saskia Spaich
Marc Sütterlin
Regine Schaffelder
Myasthenia Gravis in Pregnancy: A Case Report
Case Reports in Obstetrics and Gynecology
title Myasthenia Gravis in Pregnancy: A Case Report
title_full Myasthenia Gravis in Pregnancy: A Case Report
title_fullStr Myasthenia Gravis in Pregnancy: A Case Report
title_full_unstemmed Myasthenia Gravis in Pregnancy: A Case Report
title_short Myasthenia Gravis in Pregnancy: A Case Report
title_sort myasthenia gravis in pregnancy a case report
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/736024
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