Myasthenia Gravis Complicated with Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma, Not Otherwise Specified (PTCL-NOS), Following Thymectomy and Longstanding Tacrolimus Therapy

Abstract

Myasthenia gravis (MG), a neuromuscular junction autoimmune disease, sometimes complicates second malignancies; however, T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders have rarely been reported. A 55-year-old man, who received oral tacrolimus and prednisolone for MG for 16 years after thymectomy, presented with left abdominal pain, lymphadenopathy, and splenomegaly. A lymph node biopsy revealed peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS). This is the first report of oral tacrolimus leading to a T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder in patient without a history of transplantation. Physicians should be aware of the possibility of rare T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders, such as PTCL-NOS, occurring as complications in MG patients on immunosuppressive regimens after thymectomy.