Download PDF
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2020; 78(03): 179-181
DOI: 10.1590/0004-282X20190189
Historical Note

Celebrating the 70 years of pyridostigmine on therapy of Myasthenia Gravis: historical aspects of the preliminary trials

Celebrando os 70 anos da piridostigmina no tratamento da Miastenia Gravis: aspectos históricos dos ensaios clínicos preliminares
Paulo José LORENZONI 
1   Universidade Federal do Paraná, Hospital de Clínicas, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Serviço de Neurologia, Serviço de Doenças Neuromusculares, Curitiba PR, Brazil.
,
Cláudia Suemi Kamoi KAY 
1   Universidade Federal do Paraná, Hospital de Clínicas, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Serviço de Neurologia, Serviço de Doenças Neuromusculares, Curitiba PR, Brazil.
,
Renata Dal-Prá DUCCI 
1   Universidade Federal do Paraná, Hospital de Clínicas, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Serviço de Neurologia, Serviço de Doenças Neuromusculares, Curitiba PR, Brazil.
,
Otto Jesus Hernandez FUSTES 
1   Universidade Federal do Paraná, Hospital de Clínicas, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Serviço de Neurologia, Serviço de Doenças Neuromusculares, Curitiba PR, Brazil.
,
Lineu Cesar WERNECK 
1   Universidade Federal do Paraná, Hospital de Clínicas, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Serviço de Neurologia, Serviço de Doenças Neuromusculares, Curitiba PR, Brazil.
,
Rosana Herminia SCOLA 
1   Universidade Federal do Paraná, Hospital de Clínicas, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Serviço de Neurologia, Serviço de Doenças Neuromusculares, Curitiba PR, Brazil.
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
Also available at
   Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Currently, pyridostigmine bromide is an indispensable anticholinesterase agent used worldwide to treat patients with Myasthenia Gravis (MG). However, pyridostigmine bromide was unsuccessful in its “pioneering trials” to treat a series of MG patients. There are important historical landmarks before pyridostigmine bromide becomes useful, safe and indispensable for MG therapy. After 70 years of these “pioneering trials”, this article reviews some historical aspects related to them, as well as other preliminary trials using pyridostigmine bromide as therapy for MG patients.

Resumo

Atualmente, o brometo de piridostigmina é um indispensável agente anticolinesterásico usado em todo o mundo no tratamento de pacientes com Miastenia Gravis (MG). Contudo, o brometo de piridostigmina não foi bem-sucedido, em seus “ensaios clínicos pioneiros”, no tratamento de uma série de pacientes com MG. Existem importantes marcos históricos antes do brometo de piridostigmina se tornar útil, seguro e indispensável no tratamento da MG. Após 70 anos desses “ensaios clínicos pioneiros”, este artigo revisa alguns aspectos históricos a eles relacionados, bem como a outros estudos preliminares que usaram o brometo de piridostigmina como um tratamento para pacientes com MG.

Keywords:

myasthenia gravis - pyridostigmine - treatment - history

Palavras-chave:

miastenia gravis - piridostigmina - tratamento - história


Publication History

Received: 26 July 2019

Accepted: 06 November 2019

Article published online:
02 June 2023

© 2020. Academia Brasileira de Neurologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda.
Rua do Matoso 170, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 20270-135, Brazil

 

  • References

  • 1 Carvalho VM, Nogueira EAG, Rosa GR, Fragoso YD. Mary Broadfoot Walker: 83 years since a historical discovery. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2017 Nov;75(11):825-26. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0004-282x20170138
  • 2 Cunha FMB, Scola RH, Werneck LC. Myasthenia gravis: historical aspects. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 1999 Jun;57(2B):531-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0004-282X1999000300030
  • 3 Bauer H, Schmid O. Zur medikamentösen Behandlung der Myasthenie. Dtsch Z Nervenheilkd. 1953;169(6):427-37.
  • 4 Maggi L, Mantegazza R. Treatment of myasthenia gravis: focus on pyridostigmine. Clin Drug Investig. 2011 Oct;31(10):691-701. https://doi.org/10.2165/11593300-20190189000-00000
  • 5 Schwab RS, Timberlake WH. Pyridostigmin (Mestinon) in the treatment of myasthenia gravis. N Engl J Med. 1954 Aug;251(7):271-2. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM195408122510706
  • 6 Osserman KE, Teng P, Kaplan LI. Studies in myasthenia gravis: preliminary report on therapy with mestinon bromide. JAMA. 1954 Jul;155(11):961-5. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1954.03690290011004
  • 7 Tether JE. Mestinon in myasthenia gravis (preliminary report). Dis Nerv Syst. 1954;15(8):227-31.
  • 8 Westberg MR, Magee KR. Mestinon in the treatment of myasthenia gravis. Neurology. 1954 Oct;4(10):762-71. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.4.10.762
  • 9 Keesey JC. A history of treatments for Myasthenia Gravis. Semin Neurol. 2004 Mar;24(1):5-16. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2004-829584
  • 10 Seibert von P. Zur Behandlung der Myasthenia gravis: Klinische Erfahrungen über die Behandlung der Myasthenia gravis pseudoparalytica mit Pyridostigmin. Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 1953;22:805-7.
  • 11 Struppler A. Further progress in therapy of myasthenic syndrome. Med Monatsschr. 1953;7(7):428-32.
  • 12 Sutter JM, Jorda M, Lebascle J. A case of Erb-Goldflam myasthenia. Trial of a new anti-myasthenic product. Rev Otoneuroophtalmol. 1953 Mar;25(3):169-72.
  • 13 Seibert P. Treatment of myasthenia gravis: clinical experiences concerning treatment of pseudoparalytic myasthenia gravis with Pyridostigmine (abstract). JAMA. 1953;153:75.
  • 14 Welte E. Myasthenia gravis pseudoparalytica. Fortschr Neurol Psychiat. 1953;21:57.