[Myasthenia gravis associated with tonic pupil].

A 41 year-old female patient with acquired autoimmune myasthenia gravis (MG, IIa type) and tonic pupil (Adie's pupil) of the right side was reported. Adie's pupil was pointed out at the same time of the clinical diagnosis of MG in September, 1988. She had the solitary thymoma identified by pneumo-mediastinograph and mediastinal CT scan. Results of the positive anti-nicotinic AChR antibody titer, the positive edrophonium test and the electrophysiological examination gave unambiguous evidences of acquired autoimmune MG with thymoma. Instillations to the eyes of cocaine, pilocarpine and epinephrine, and the pupillary response to the intravenous injection of edrophonium revealed the postganglionic abnormality mainly in the parasympathetic system. There were no other overt symptoms due to dysautonomia. She refused thymectomy. Her myasthenic and pupillary signs became gradually improving without any immunosuppressive medications. It is concluded that two diseases of the patient may be probably caused by multiple organ- or tissue-specific autoantibodies, in addition to pathogenetic significance of Adie's pupil.