Non-motor comorbidity of myasthenia gravis: Myasthenia gravis as a systemic immunological disorder involving non-motor systems

Abstract

To explore non-motor comorbidities of myasthenia gravis (MG), we present two cases of thymomaassociated MG patients. Alopecia, pure red cell aplasia, and thymoma- associated multiorgan autoimmunity were observed in Case 1, and alopecia, thrombocytopenia, hypogammaglobulinemia and nephrotic syndrome were observed in Case 2. In both cases, autoreactive T lymphocytes inappropriately stimulated by thymus tissue may have played key roles in generating the various autoimmune-associated symptoms. Consequently, systemic immunological involvement due to the thymoma-associated breakdown of immunoregulations in both motor and non-motor systems should be considered in MG patients.