The safety and efficacy profile of eculizumab in myasthenic crisis: a prospective small case series

Abstract

Eculizumab has improved recovery from ventilatory support in myasthenic crisis (MC) cases. However, the safety and efficacy profiles from prospective studies are still lacking. This study aimed to explore eculizumab's safety and efficacy in a prospective case series of patients with refractory MC. We followed a series of anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody-positive myasthenia gravis (MG) patients who received eculizumab as an add-on therapy for 12 weeks during MC to facilitate the weaning process and reduced disease activity. Serum anti-AChR antibodies and peripheral immune molecules associated with the complement pathway were evaluated before and after eculizumab administration. Compared to the baseline Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA)-quantitative MG test (QMG) scores (22.25 ± 4.92) and MG-activities of daily living (MG-ADL; 18.25 ± 2.5) scores at crisis, improvements were observed from 4 weeks (14.5 ± 10.47 and 7.5 ± 7.59, respectively) through 12 weeks (7.5 ± 5.74 and 2.25 ± 3.86, respectively) post-treatment. Muscle strength consistently improved across ocular, bulbar, respiratory, and limb/gross domain groups. One patient died of cardiac failure at 16 weeks. Three cases remained in remission at 24 weeks, with a mean QMG score of 2.67 ± 2.89 and ADL score of 0.33 ± 0.58. No significant side effects were reported. Serum CH50 and soluble C5b-9 levels significantly declined, while there were no significant changes in serum anti-AChR antibody levels, C1q, C5a levels, or peripheral lymphocyte proportions. Eculizumab was well tolerated and showed efficacy in this case series. Large prospective cohort studies with extended follow-up periods are needed to further explore the safety and efficacy profile in real-world practice.

Keywords: case report; eculizumab; myasthenic crisis; outcome; rescue therapy.

Figure 1.

The changes in QMG after eculizumab treatment for 24 weeks and the impact on different muscle subdomains were presented.

Figure 2.

The changes in MGFA-ADL after eculizumab treatment for 24 weeks and the impact on different muscle subdomains were presented.

Figure 3.

Serum complement activation parameters at baseline (prior to eculizumab treatment) and 12 weeks post-eculizumab administration. The levels of CH50 (a), soluble C5b-9 (sC5b-9) (b), C1q (c), and C5a (d) were demonstrated in the four patients. sC5b-9, soluble C5b-9.