Intravenous immunoglobulin as monotherapy for myasthenia gravis during pregnancy

Abstract

Introduction: Pregnant women with myasthenia gravis (MG) are at increased risk of complications and adverse outcomes, including the teratogenic effects of many drugs used to treat MG women of childbearing age. The effectiveness of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) on other autoimmune mediated diseases has been extensively reported in recent years, although little is known about the role of IVIg in the treatment of MG during pregnancy. We designed this study to determine the effectiveness of IVIg as monotherapy during pregnancy for women with MG.

Material and methods: Five pregnant MG patients (mean age at delivery 36.4years, SD 5.8, range 29.4-45.2) were studied in 2013-14. Their treatment was switched to monthly IVIg cycles 2months before the pregnancy. Follow-up included monthly neurological QMG throughout the pregnancy and postpartum, obstetrical monitoring during monthly visits in the first two trimesters of the pregnancy, fortnightly visits between week 32 and week 36, and weekly visits after 36weeks, and neonatal follow-up after delivery.

Results: We observed no exacerbations during pregnancy, delivery or post-partum. The mean QMG score at baseline (before pregnancy) was 7.4 points in five women with generalized forms of MG. The maximum mean value reached during pregnancy was 8.6 points. The mean pregnancy duration was 38 w+5 d. No infant with transient neonatal myasthenia gravis.

Conclusions: These results suggest that monotherapy with IVIg during pregnancy in MG patients could be promising, although confirmation is required in studies with larger populations.

Keywords: Delivery; IVIg; Monotherapy; Myasthenia gravis; Pregnancy; Transient neonatal myasthenia; Treatment.