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Myasthenia gravis with alopecia totalis
Author(s) -
NOGUCHI YUKIO,
FUCHIGAMI TATSUO,
MORIMOTO SHIGEO,
HARADA KENSUKE
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-200x.1998.tb01415.x
Subject(s) - alopecia areata , medicine , myasthenia gravis , dermatology , scalp , ptosis , anti nuclear antibody , immunology , antibody , autoantibody , surgery
Myasthenia gravis was diagnosed on the basis of a positive Tensilon test in a 4‐year‐old male child with alopecia totalis. His scalp hair and eyebrows had began to disappear at the age of 10 months. No other physical abnormalities such as motor paralysis, were seen except for left ptosis and alopecia totalis. His serum titer of anti‐acetylcholine receptor antibody was elevated. No immune system abnormalities (C3, C4, CH50, C‐reactive protein, antinuclear antibody or lymphocyte function disorders) were detected. Although alopecia areata and alopecia totalis are sometimes present in adults with autoimmune diseases and myasthenia gravis, this association is rare in children. The present case represents the youngest patient with myasthenia gravis associated with alopecia totalis.