THE ASSOCIATION OF SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS AND MYASTHENIA-GRAVIS

Two women with the rare association of systemic lupus erythematosus (S LE) and myasthenia gravis (MG) are reported. The first patient develop ed SLE (arthritis, severe thrombocytopenia, and high titres of anti-DN A antibodies) 6 years following successful therapeutic thymectomy for MG. The second patient developed SLE (oral ulcers, arthritis, serositi s, leukopenia, high titres of anti-DNA and anti-nuclear antibodies) 4 years prior to the clinical and serological onset of MG. Lymphocyte su bsets and in vitro proliferative responses of peripheral blood mononuc lear cells to mitogens were normal in both patients. A review of the l iterature revealed 26 additional patients with definite SLE coexisting with MG. Besides the theoretical interest of this association, the di fferential diagnosis of fatigue in patients with SLE should always inc lude the possibility of MG.