Infections and the relationship to treatment in neuromuscular autoimmunity.

Introduction: This study aimed to identify infections in patients with myasthenia gravis, dermatomyositis, and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, and to investigate the relationship between infection and immunomodulation.

Methods: A retrospective chart review examined 631 patients with myasthenia gravis (n = 358), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (n = 124), and dermatomyositis (n = 149) patients over a 10-year time period.

Results: Infection rates were similar at approximately 19% in all 3 diseases.