1887
Volume 1998, Issue 2
  • ISSN: 0253-8253
  • EISSN: 2227-0426

Abstract

Abstract

A series is presented of 30 patients with generalized myasthenia gravis (MG) who were treated by sternal split and extended thymectomy. The mean age was 22 years, median 19 years with a female to male ratio of 2:1. The overall improvement rate was 90%; 70% achieved drug-free remission and another 20% required decreased medication. Drug-free remission was achieved in 80% female and in 50% male and in 50% on steriods and mestinon compared with 80% of those on mestinon alone. There were no deaths or significant complications. These results suggest that an aggressive surgical approach to myasthenia gravis can result in a higher percentage of drug-free remissions.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.5339/qmj.1998.2.9
2014-11-01
2024-03-28
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Buckingham I.M., Haward F.M., Bernatz P.E.: The value of thymectomy in myasthenia gravis. Ann Surg 184::1976:453.
    [Google Scholar]
  2. Downald G. Mulder. Michael Graves, Christian Herrman: Thymectomy for myasthenia gravis: Recent observations and compassions with past experience. Ann Thorac Surg 48::1989:551555.
    [Google Scholar]
  3. Lindstrom I.M., Seybold M.E., Lennon V.A. Whittinghams, Dnane DD: Antibody to acteylcholine receptor in myasthenia gravis: prevalence Clinical correlates and diagnostic value. Neurology. 26::1976:1054
    [Google Scholar]
  4. Drachman D.B., Adams R.N., Josifek E.E., Self S.G.: Functional activities of autoantibodies to anti acteylcholine receptors and the clinical severity of myasthenia gravis. N Engl J Med 307::1982:769.
    [Google Scholar]
  5. Kao I., Drachman D.B.: Myasthenic immunoglobulin accelerates acteylcholine receptor degradation. Science 196::1977:527.
    [Google Scholar]
  6. Castelman B.: The pathology of the thymus gland in myasthenia gravis. Ann NY Acad ScL 135::1966:496.
    [Google Scholar]
  7. Wekerle H.: Muller - Hermelink HK: The thymus in myasthenia gravis. Curr Tup Pathol 75:1986:179206.
    [Google Scholar]
  8. Fisher Josef E., Grinvalski Henry T., Nussbaun Michael S., Sayers Hezel J., Cole Robert E., Samaha Frederick J.: Aggressive surgical approach for drug free remission from Myasthenia Gravis. Ann Surg May 1987:
    [Google Scholar]
  9. William Frist H., Shanti Thirumalai, Christopher Doehring B.: Thymectomy for the myasthenia gravis patient: Factors influencing outcome. Ann Thorac Surg 57::1994:334338.
    [Google Scholar]
  10. Otto T.J., Strugalska H.: Surgical treatment for myasthenia gravis. Thorax 42::1987:199204.
    [Google Scholar]
  11. Osterman P.O.: Current treatment of myasthenia gravis. Prog Brain Res 84:1990:151161.
    [Google Scholar]
  12. Beghi E., Antozzi C., Batocchi A.P., et al. Prognosis of myasthenia gravis: A multic enter follow-up study of 844 patients. J Neurol Sci 106::1991:213220.
    [Google Scholar]
  13. Jaretzki A., Penn A.S., Younger DS: Maximal thymectomy for myasthenia gravis. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 95::1988:747757.
    [Google Scholar]
  14. Papatetas A.E., Genkins G., Kornfeld P., et al. Effects of thymectomy in myasthenia gravis. Ann Surg 206:1987:7988.
    [Google Scholar]
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journals/10.5339/qmj.1998.2.9
Loading
  • Article Type: Other
Keyword(s): AutoimmuneDrug Free RemissionMyasthenia Gravis and Thymectomy
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error