Myasthenia gravis and pure red cell aplasia: a rare association

BMJ Case Rep. 2013 Feb 14:2013:bcr2012008224. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2012-008224.

Abstract

This is a case of a patient who presented with generalised weakness, dysphagia and ptosis. Upon evaluating the patient, she was found to have myasthenia gravis (MG) with anaemia and hypothyroidism. Further evaluation for the cause of anaemia revealed that the patient had pure red cell aplasia (PRCA). CT thorax revealed a thymoma. The patient was given packed cell transfusions, steroids and pyridostigmine. The patient improved symptomatically. Her haemoglobin level at follow-up was 9.5 gm/dl. The patient has been posted for thymectomy. This is a rare case of PRCA seen in a patient with MG, with thymoma associated with hypothyroidism.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Blood Component Transfusion / methods
  • Bone Marrow Cells / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypothyroidism / complications
  • Hypothyroidism / diagnosis
  • Middle Aged
  • Myasthenia Gravis / complications*
  • Myasthenia Gravis / diagnosis
  • Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure / blood
  • Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure / complications*
  • Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure / therapy
  • Thymoma / complications
  • Thymoma / diagnosis
  • Thymus Neoplasms / complications
  • Thymus Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed