A 23-year-old woman was transferred to our hospital due to exacerbating dyspnea with wheeze. After admission, we started mechanical ventilation immediately, and she was diagnosed with status asthmatics. On the following day, she was able to be weaned from the ventilator. However, she required re-intubation because of an unstable respiratory condition just after extubation. Detailed neurological investigations identified blepharoptosis and muscle weakness with easy fatigability. An edrophonium test was positive. Anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody was detected in her serum. She was finally diagnosed with myasthenia gravis and successfully treated with neostigmine and a low-dose corticosteroid.
Keywords: acute respiratory failure; myasthenia gravis; status asthmatics.