Skip to main content
Top
Published in: European Journal of Pediatrics 2/2009

01-02-2009 | Short Report

Muscle weakness in a girl with autoimmune hepatitis and Graves’ disease

Authors: Ahmed Sarkhy, Rabindranath Persad, Mark Tarnopolsky

Published in: European Journal of Pediatrics | Issue 2/2009

Login to get access

Abstract

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic hepatic autoimmune disease of unknown etiology associated with inflammatory changes and autoantibodies. The combination of AIH, Grave’s disease, and myasthenia gravis (MG) is rare, with only one other case reported. We report a pediatric patient with AIH type 2 and Grave’s disease who developed MG whilst on a treatment with corticosteroids. A 13-year-old girl, diagnosed with thyrotoxicosis, was identified as having AIH type 2. During the course of her therapy, she developed muscle weakness. Investigations revealed increased anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies and her electromyopgraphy (EMG) was characteristic for MG. Her course is described here. This case highlights the importance of investigating muscle weakness in severely ill hospitalized patients.
Literature
2.
go back to reference Asakawa H, Kashihara T, Fukuda H, Yamamoto M (2002) A patient with thymoma and four different organ-specific autoimmune diseases. Neth J Med 60:292–295PubMed Asakawa H, Kashihara T, Fukuda H, Yamamoto M (2002) A patient with thymoma and four different organ-specific autoimmune diseases. Neth J Med 60:292–295PubMed
3.
go back to reference Boberg KM, Aadland E, Jahnsen J, Raknerud N, Stiris M, Bell H (1998) Incidence and prevalence of primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and autoimmune hepatitis in a Norwegian population. Scand J Gastroenterol 33:99–103PubMedCrossRef Boberg KM, Aadland E, Jahnsen J, Raknerud N, Stiris M, Bell H (1998) Incidence and prevalence of primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and autoimmune hepatitis in a Norwegian population. Scand J Gastroenterol 33:99–103PubMedCrossRef
4.
go back to reference Carpenter RJ 3rd, McDonald TJ, Howard FM Jr (1979) The otolaryngologic presentation of myasthenia gravis. Laryngoscope 89(6 Pt 1):922–928PubMed Carpenter RJ 3rd, McDonald TJ, Howard FM Jr (1979) The otolaryngologic presentation of myasthenia gravis. Laryngoscope 89(6 Pt 1):922–928PubMed
5.
go back to reference Christensen PB, Jensen TS, Tsiropoulos I, Sørensen T, Kjaer M, Højer-Pedersen E, Rasmussen MJ, Lehfeldt E (1995) Associated autoimmune diseases in myasthenia gravis. A population-based study. Acta Neurol Scand 91(3):192–195PubMedCrossRef Christensen PB, Jensen TS, Tsiropoulos I, Sørensen T, Kjaer M, Højer-Pedersen E, Rasmussen MJ, Lehfeldt E (1995) Associated autoimmune diseases in myasthenia gravis. A population-based study. Acta Neurol Scand 91(3):192–195PubMedCrossRef
6.
go back to reference Cui B, Abe M, Hidata S, Nakanishi S, Matsuura B, Michitaka K, Yamamoto K, Horiike N, Onji M (2003) Autoimmune hepatitis associated with Graves’ disease. Intern Med 42(4):331–335PubMedCrossRef Cui B, Abe M, Hidata S, Nakanishi S, Matsuura B, Michitaka K, Yamamoto K, Horiike N, Onji M (2003) Autoimmune hepatitis associated with Graves’ disease. Intern Med 42(4):331–335PubMedCrossRef
7.
go back to reference Czaja AJ (1984) Natural history, clinical features, and treatment of autoimmune hepatitis. Semin Liver Dis 4:1–12PubMedCrossRef Czaja AJ (1984) Natural history, clinical features, and treatment of autoimmune hepatitis. Semin Liver Dis 4:1–12PubMedCrossRef
8.
go back to reference Czaja AJ, Manns MP (1995) The validity and importance of subtypes in autoimmune hepatitis: a point of view. Am J Gastroenterol 90:1206–1211PubMed Czaja AJ, Manns MP (1995) The validity and importance of subtypes in autoimmune hepatitis: a point of view. Am J Gastroenterol 90:1206–1211PubMed
10.
go back to reference Ebbson RL, Schreiber RA (2004) Diagnosing autoimmune hepatitis in children: is the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group scoring system useful? Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2(10):935–940CrossRef Ebbson RL, Schreiber RA (2004) Diagnosing autoimmune hepatitis in children: is the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group scoring system useful? Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2(10):935–940CrossRef
11.
go back to reference Johnson PJ, McFarlane IG (1993) Meeting report: International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group. Hepatology 18:998–1005PubMedCrossRef Johnson PJ, McFarlane IG (1993) Meeting report: International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group. Hepatology 18:998–1005PubMedCrossRef
12.
go back to reference Liu Z, Braverman LE, Malabanan A (2006) Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis in a Hispanic man after the administration of prednisone. Endocr Pract 12(4):427–431PubMed Liu Z, Braverman LE, Malabanan A (2006) Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis in a Hispanic man after the administration of prednisone. Endocr Pract 12(4):427–431PubMed
13.
go back to reference Palace J, Newsom-Davis J, Lecky B (1998) A randomized double-blind trial of prednisolone alone or with azathioprine in myasthenia gravis. Myasthenia Gravis Study Group. Neurology 50:1778–1783PubMed Palace J, Newsom-Davis J, Lecky B (1998) A randomized double-blind trial of prednisolone alone or with azathioprine in myasthenia gravis. Myasthenia Gravis Study Group. Neurology 50:1778–1783PubMed
14.
go back to reference Schwendimann RN, Burton E, Minagar A (2005) Management of myasthenia gravis. Am J Ther 12(3):262–268PubMed Schwendimann RN, Burton E, Minagar A (2005) Management of myasthenia gravis. Am J Ther 12(3):262–268PubMed
15.
go back to reference Warmolts JR, Engel WK (1972) Benefit from alternate-day prednisone in myasthenia gravis. N Engl J Med 286:17–20PubMed Warmolts JR, Engel WK (1972) Benefit from alternate-day prednisone in myasthenia gravis. N Engl J Med 286:17–20PubMed
16.
go back to reference Young GB, Hammond RR (2004) A stronger approach to weakness in the intensive care unit. Crit Care 8(6):416–418PubMedCrossRef Young GB, Hammond RR (2004) A stronger approach to weakness in the intensive care unit. Crit Care 8(6):416–418PubMedCrossRef
17.
go back to reference Zachou K, Rigopoulou E, Dalekos GN (2004) Autoantibodies and autoantigens in autoimmune hepatitis: important tools in clinical practice and to study pathogenesis of the disease. J Autoimmune Dis 1(1):2PubMedCrossRef Zachou K, Rigopoulou E, Dalekos GN (2004) Autoantibodies and autoantigens in autoimmune hepatitis: important tools in clinical practice and to study pathogenesis of the disease. J Autoimmune Dis 1(1):2PubMedCrossRef
Metadata
Title
Muscle weakness in a girl with autoimmune hepatitis and Graves’ disease
Authors
Ahmed Sarkhy
Rabindranath Persad
Mark Tarnopolsky
Publication date
01-02-2009
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
European Journal of Pediatrics / Issue 2/2009
Print ISSN: 0340-6199
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1076
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-008-0738-6

Other articles of this Issue 2/2009

European Journal of Pediatrics 2/2009 Go to the issue