Myasthenia Gravis : Clinical Spectrum And Long Term Follow-Up Study

Data from 386 patients, fairly representative of myasthenic population seeking medical advice, were analyzed for clinical spectrum, course and long-term outcome. There were 237 males and 149 females (3:2) with a mean age at onset of 30.6 years. Family history of myasthenia was noted in 5.4&#x0...

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Main Authors: Ashraf V V, Taly A B, Vasanth Anisya, Veerendrakumar M, Rao Shivaji
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2005-01-01
Series:Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology
Online Access:http://www.annalsofian.org/article.asp?issn=0972-2327;year=2005;volume=8;issue=1;spage=7;epage=13;aulast=Ashraf;type=0
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author Ashraf V V
Taly A B
Vasanth Anisya
Veerendrakumar M
Rao Shivaji
author_facet Ashraf V V
Taly A B
Vasanth Anisya
Veerendrakumar M
Rao Shivaji
author_sort Ashraf V V
collection DOAJ
description Data from 386 patients, fairly representative of myasthenic population seeking medical advice, were analyzed for clinical spectrum, course and long-term outcome. There were 237 males and 149 females (3:2) with a mean age at onset of 30.6 years. Family history of myasthenia was noted in 5.4% patients. During the first month after the onset symptoms and signs were confined to ocular muscles in 47%, bulbar muscles in 12.5% and involved extremities in 9.4% of patients while 30% individuals had generalized MG. Fifteen patients had chronic limb girdle myasthenia. Of the 181 patients with ocular myasthenia at onset, 53% patients subsequently developed generalized disease and in 44% of these patients it occurred after two years of the onset. Thymectomy was performed in 16% of patients and 70% of the patients were treated with one or more immunosuppressive drugs at sometime. At last follow-up (mean -5.1 yrs), 41 % patients were asymptomatic, 40% reported improvement and 19% deteriorated. Drug free stable remission was achieved in 11% of patients. There was a trend for better outcome in patients undergoing thymectomy than medically treated patients, however the drug free remission rate was same in both the groups. MG was lethal in 11% of patients, principally in women, older than 35 years, and in patients in grade 3 or worse at first observation. Forty-three episodes of myasthenic crisis in 34 patients were analyzed. Infection was the commonest precipitating event. Median interval between the onset of symptoms to crisis was 13 months. Nine episodes of crisis were fatal, with a mortality rate of 21%. A significant reduction in crisis mortality from 40% during 1980-1990 to 10.2% during 1991 to 1999 was noted, reflecting improvement in management strategies.
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spelling doaj.art-5362ac6d58f1491fbe1dd11b830e584e2022-12-22T01:06:04ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsAnnals of Indian Academy of Neurology0972-23271998-35492005-01-0181713Myasthenia Gravis : Clinical Spectrum And Long Term Follow-Up StudyAshraf V VTaly A BVasanth AnisyaVeerendrakumar MRao ShivajiData from 386 patients, fairly representative of myasthenic population seeking medical advice, were analyzed for clinical spectrum, course and long-term outcome. There were 237 males and 149 females (3:2) with a mean age at onset of 30.6 years. Family history of myasthenia was noted in 5.4% patients. During the first month after the onset symptoms and signs were confined to ocular muscles in 47%, bulbar muscles in 12.5% and involved extremities in 9.4% of patients while 30% individuals had generalized MG. Fifteen patients had chronic limb girdle myasthenia. Of the 181 patients with ocular myasthenia at onset, 53% patients subsequently developed generalized disease and in 44% of these patients it occurred after two years of the onset. Thymectomy was performed in 16% of patients and 70% of the patients were treated with one or more immunosuppressive drugs at sometime. At last follow-up (mean -5.1 yrs), 41 % patients were asymptomatic, 40% reported improvement and 19% deteriorated. Drug free stable remission was achieved in 11% of patients. There was a trend for better outcome in patients undergoing thymectomy than medically treated patients, however the drug free remission rate was same in both the groups. MG was lethal in 11% of patients, principally in women, older than 35 years, and in patients in grade 3 or worse at first observation. Forty-three episodes of myasthenic crisis in 34 patients were analyzed. Infection was the commonest precipitating event. Median interval between the onset of symptoms to crisis was 13 months. Nine episodes of crisis were fatal, with a mortality rate of 21%. A significant reduction in crisis mortality from 40% during 1980-1990 to 10.2% during 1991 to 1999 was noted, reflecting improvement in management strategies.http://www.annalsofian.org/article.asp?issn=0972-2327;year=2005;volume=8;issue=1;spage=7;epage=13;aulast=Ashraf;type=0
spellingShingle Ashraf V V
Taly A B
Vasanth Anisya
Veerendrakumar M
Rao Shivaji
Myasthenia Gravis : Clinical Spectrum And Long Term Follow-Up Study
Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology
title Myasthenia Gravis : Clinical Spectrum And Long Term Follow-Up Study
title_full Myasthenia Gravis : Clinical Spectrum And Long Term Follow-Up Study
title_fullStr Myasthenia Gravis : Clinical Spectrum And Long Term Follow-Up Study
title_full_unstemmed Myasthenia Gravis : Clinical Spectrum And Long Term Follow-Up Study
title_short Myasthenia Gravis : Clinical Spectrum And Long Term Follow-Up Study
title_sort myasthenia gravis clinical spectrum and long term follow up study
url http://www.annalsofian.org/article.asp?issn=0972-2327;year=2005;volume=8;issue=1;spage=7;epage=13;aulast=Ashraf;type=0
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