Refractory Myasthenia Gravis and Concurrent Alopecia Areata Post-Thymectomy With Improvements After Cortisone Taper: A Case Report

January 2024 in “ Case Reports in Endocrinology ”

Baraa Alghalyini, H. Dahman, Abdul Rehman Zia Zaidi, Fathima Aasiya Tehreemah Raziq, Mohammad Amin Alswes

alopecia areata cortisone thymectomy immunological changes

TLDR Cortisone tapering may help improve severe myasthenia gravis and alopecia areata after thymectomy.

A 58-year-old male with refractory myasthenia gravis and concurrent alopecia areata showed significant improvement in symptoms after a cortisone taper following thymectomy. Initial treatments were ineffective, but reducing cortisone from 50 mg to 10 mg led to marked improvement in both conditions, with alopecia nearly resolved. This case highlights the complex relationship between myasthenia gravis, thymectomy, and autoimmune conditions like alopecia areata, suggesting a shared immunological basis and the importance of personalized treatment approaches.

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Thymectomy and high-dose prednisolone improved hair loss in a woman with alopecia areata.