Clinical features and evolution of juvenile myasthenia gravis in a French cohort.

INTRODUCTION: In this study we determined the clinical, paraclinical, and treatment-related features of juvenile myasthenia gravis (JMG) as well as the clinical course in a cohort of French children.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 40 patients with JMG at 2 French pediatric neurology departments from April 2004 to April 2014.

RESULTS: Among the patients, 70% had generalized JMG, 52% had positive acetylcholine receptor antibodies, 8% had muscle-specific kinase antibodies, and 40% were seronegative. Treatment with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors was effective and sufficient in 47% of patients. The 6 patients with generalized JMG treated with rituximab and/or immunoadsorption showed improvement. Thirty percent of the patients required hospitalization in an intensive care unit during follow-up (mean 4.7 years). Remission without treatment occurred in 18% of patients.

DISCUSSION: As with adults, JMG has high morbidity, particularly among children with generalized symptoms, and rituximab should be considered early in the course of the disease as a second-line treatment. Muscle Nerve 57: 603-609, 2018.