[Simultaneous occurrence of acute myasthenia gravis and acute polymyositis in 3 patients and in 2 patients also associated with a thymoma].

In the Slovak Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases 768 patients with myasthenia gravis are on the records. 112 myasthenics (14.5%) have another associated autoimmune disease. Most frequently a combination with an autoimmune disease of the thyroid gland or rheumatoid arthritis is involved. Extremely rare is the concurrent manifestation of the acute form of mysthenia gravis and acute polymyositis, observed by the authors in three patients,incl. two associated with a thymoma. In all three patients the disease had a serious clinical picture which called for controlled ventilation and a nasogastric tube. From the prognostic aspect rapid and correct diagnosis and early adequate treatment--combined immunosuppressive treatment (prednisone, azathioprin) is most important, incl. large i.v. doses of methylprednisone, repeated plasmaphereses, i.v. administration of human immunoglobulin, 0.4 g/kg body weight for a period of five days and optimally timed thymectomy with removal of the thymoma.