Factors affecting outcome in myasthenia gravis

Abstract

Prognosis is favorable for the majority of MG patients, regardless of age, maximum disease severity, or antibody status. Muscle Nerve, 2016 Muscle Nerve 54: 1041-1049, 2016.

Start high, then go low: An effective strategy in the treatment of myasthenia gravis

“…Early aggressive treatment of MG using conventional approaches, followed by lower doses of oral corticosteroids, appears to be a worthwhile strategy in reaching favorable long‐term outcomes. The current findings bolster other recent reports that demonstrate the feasibility of tapering, albeit slowly, other immunosuppressive agents in MG without compromising disease control . As always, a prospective study testing such treatment principles would be ideal, but in the meantime the weight of retrospective evidence is certainly something to consider when making early treatment decisions in MG.…”

Factors predicting remission in thymectomized patients with acetylcholine receptor antibody‐positive myasthenia gravis

“…This result is consistent with results from previous studies that included large numbers (>100) of patients . However, other studies have found that nonthymomatous pathology is not a prognostic factor . This discrepancy may be a result of differences in participants, follow‐up times, or sample sizes.…”

“…4,6,15 However, other studies have found that nonthymomatous pathology is not a prognostic factor. 5,[16][17][18] This discrepancy may be a result of differences in participants, followup times, or sample sizes. The latter studies included <100 MG patients with thymoma.…”

Maternal myasthenia gravis represents a risk for the child through autoantibody transfer, immunosuppressive therapy and genetic influence

“…Treatment is symptomatic with an acetylcholine esterase inhibitor, immunosuppression and thymectomy . With optimal therapy most patients have only mild symptoms or remission . MG crisis with impaired respiratory function and need of intensive care remains a threat.…”