A case of linear scleroderma and myasthenia gravis.

We report a case of a 28-year-old woman with myasthenia gravis who developed linear scleroderma seven years later. Myasthenia gravis and scleroderma are rarely found in direct association with each other; there are only five such reported cases, all of which were systemic scleroderma patients. Although localized and systemic scleroderma are distinct entities, autoimmunity is believed to be involved in the pathogenesis of both. Myasthenia gravis and scleroderma may occur coincidentally, but an autoimmune predisposition seems to be the more likely underlying cause, as evidenced by an increased incidence of autoantibodies and autoimmune diseases.