A case of myasthenia gravis associated with rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, hypergammaglobulinemia and hyperthyroidism
Mizuno, T.; Hashimoto, T.; Hibino, N.; Nakamae, K.; Masaoka, A.
Nihon Kyobu Geka Gakkai 36(7): 1191-1193
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0369-4739 PMID: 3053938 Document Number: 325305
A very rare case of myasthenia gravis associated with rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, hypergammaglobulinemia and hyperthyrodism is presented, with attention focussed mainly on the thymus disorder. A 60-year-old woman was subjected to thymectomy for myasthemnia gravis. No tumor was found. However, lymphoid hyperplasia with germinal centers was noted in the thymus. Immunohistochemical staining by avidin-biotinylated peroxidase complex technique revealed that IgG, IgA and IgM positive cells were distributed mainly in the cortico-medullary junction of the thymus. Electron-microscopic observation revealed virus budding in the cytoplasm of some T-lymphocytes, myoid cells and epithelial cells. Only 6 cases, including this one, of myasthenia gravis associated with Sjogren's syndrome have been reported in the Japanese literature. In addition, this case was complicated with other immunological disorders.