IMMUNIC-MEDIATED NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASES I N CHILDREN

From 1984 to 1994 19 children with GBS had been treated at the childre ns hospital of the university Erlangen-Nuremberg. In 13 cases treatmen t with corticosteroids lead to an improvement within 1 to 4 weeks. Fiv e children needed artificial ventilation. In these cases plasmapheresi s was also used. Two children received immunglobulines. In the same pe riod we saw seven children with myasthenia gravis. After thymectomy su pportive medication of pyridostigmine could be terminated within 2 to 18 months. Three children with dermatomyositis showed prompt improveme nt following immunsuppressive therapy with corticosteroids and azathio prine.