Jiaxin Chen,1,2 Li Feng,1,2 Shiyin Li,2 Haiyan Wang,1,2 Xin Huang,1,2 Cunzhou Shen,1,2 Huiyu Feng1,2 

1Department of Neurology and Neurointensive Care Unit, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China

Correspondence: Huiyu Feng, Department of Neurology and Neurointensive Care Unit, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 58 Zhongshan Road 2, Guangzhou, 510080, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-020-87755766, Email fenghuiy@mail.sysu.edu.cn

Background: Since there is no clear priority or selection principle in the guidelines for myasthenia crisis, therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) and intravenous immunoglobulin are often administered randomly. However, it should be more prudent in taking TPE due to its higher cost and risk. Studying its early response factors is crucial for managing myasthenia crisis and can improve medical and economic benefits.
Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted, and patients classified as having “impending myasthenia crisis” or experiencing a myasthenia crisis and treated by TPE were included. The primary endpoint was the response after TPE. Univariate logistic regression analysis and repeated measurement were performed to analyze factors related to TPE efficacy.
Results: A total of 30 patients who treated with TPE as their fast-acting treatments were enrolled. After TPE, those whose QMGs and/or MGCs decreased by ≥ 5 points or ≥ 30% of the baseline were judged as “response group”, accounting for 66.67% (20/30). Respiratory symptoms had a response rate of 72.00% (18/25), showing the most remarkable improvement. Meanwhile, extraocular symptoms were the least sensitive, with only 8.00% (2/25) showing efficacy. Thymoma (100.00% vs 50.00%, P=0.002) and a high concentration of AChR-Ab (37.37 nmol/L vs 25.4 nmol/L, P=0.039) were common in the early response group. Repeated measures showed significant changes in AChR-Ab and CD19+ B cells before and after TPE (all with P < 0.05). After treatment, the CD19+ B cells tended to decrease in the response group.
Discussion: These results indicated that, for AChR-Ab positive generalized MG, TPE can quickly improve respiratory symptoms. Thymoma and a high concentration of AChR-Ab before TPE predict an early better response. Additionally, TPE may work by decreasing AChR-Ab levels and inducing immune regulation. Future prospective and randomized controlled studies are needed.

Keywords: plasma exchange, myasthenia gravis, crisis, efficacy, neuroimmunology