[Therapy of myasthenia gravis]. 2001

G Rilling, and B Tettenborn
Klinik für Neurologie, Kantonsspital St. Gallen.

The treatment of myasthenia gravis is a difficult entity. We especially discuss the immunosuppressive treatment with regard to the literature. In patients with thymoma all authors agree in thymectomy. In generalized myasthenia, even without thymoma, thymectomy should be performed in "younger" patients. In "elderly" patients thymectomy as treatment of choice is controversial. The basis of immunsuppressive therapy are corticosteroids, additionally azathioprine can be given considering the delay in response and the major side effects. As today, cyclophosphamide and cyclosporine A are too toxic for routine use, except third choice in therapy resistant patients as ultima ratio. The procedure of choice in myasthenic crisis is plasma exchange if the patient tolerates it. Alternatively intravenous immunoglobulin should be given. In pure ocular myasthenia treatment is controversial in the literature. In the last few years there is a tendency to treat this form early like generalized myasthenia, especially in young patients, to prevent generalization.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007116 Immunization, Passive Transfer of immunity from immunized to non-immune host by administration of serum antibodies, or transplantation of lymphocytes (ADOPTIVE TRANSFER). Convalescent Plasma Therapy,Immunoglobulin Therapy,Immunotherapy, Passive,Normal Serum Globulin Therapy,Passive Antibody Transfer,Passive Transfer of Immunity,Serotherapy,Passive Immunotherapy,Therapy, Immunoglobulin,Antibody Transfer, Passive,Passive Immunization,Therapy, Convalescent Plasma,Transfer, Passive Antibody
D007166 Immunosuppressive Agents Agents that suppress immune function by one of several mechanisms of action. Classical cytotoxic immunosuppressants act by inhibiting DNA synthesis. Others may act through activation of T-CELLS or by inhibiting the activation of HELPER CELLS. While immunosuppression has been brought about in the past primarily to prevent rejection of transplanted organs, new applications involving mediation of the effects of INTERLEUKINS and other CYTOKINES are emerging. Immunosuppressant,Immunosuppressive Agent,Immunosuppressants,Agent, Immunosuppressive,Agents, Immunosuppressive
D009157 Myasthenia Gravis A disorder of neuromuscular transmission characterized by fatigable weakness of cranial and skeletal muscles with elevated titers of ACETYLCHOLINE RECEPTORS or muscle-specific receptor tyrosine kinase (MuSK) autoantibodies. Clinical manifestations may include ocular muscle weakness (fluctuating, asymmetric, external ophthalmoplegia; diplopia; ptosis; and weakness of eye closure) and extraocular fatigable weakness of facial, bulbar, respiratory, and proximal limb muscles. The disease may remain limited to the ocular muscles (ocular myasthenia). THYMOMA is commonly associated with this condition. Anti-MuSK Myasthenia Gravis,MuSK MG,MuSK Myasthenia Gravis,Muscle-Specific Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Myasthenia Gravis,Muscle-Specific Tyrosine Kinase Antibody Positive Myasthenia Gravis,Myasthenia Gravis, Generalized,Myasthenia Gravis, Ocular,Anti MuSK Myasthenia Gravis,Generalized Myasthenia Gravis,Muscle Specific Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Myasthenia Gravis,Muscle Specific Tyrosine Kinase Antibody Positive Myasthenia Gravis,Myasthenia Gravis, Anti-MuSK,Myasthenia Gravis, MuSK,Ocular Myasthenia Gravis
D010951 Plasma Exchange Removal of plasma and replacement with various fluids, e.g., fresh frozen plasma, plasma protein fractions (PPF), albumin preparations, dextran solutions, saline. Used in treatment of autoimmune diseases, immune complex diseases, diseases of excess plasma factors, and other conditions. Exchange, Plasma,Exchanges, Plasma,Plasma Exchanges
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013934 Thymectomy Surgical removal of the thymus gland. (Dorland, 28th ed) Thymectomies
D016896 Treatment Outcome Evaluation undertaken to assess the results or consequences of management and procedures used in combating disease in order to determine the efficacy, effectiveness, safety, and practicability of these interventions in individual cases or series. Rehabilitation Outcome,Treatment Effectiveness,Clinical Effectiveness,Clinical Efficacy,Patient-Relevant Outcome,Treatment Efficacy,Effectiveness, Clinical,Effectiveness, Treatment,Efficacy, Clinical,Efficacy, Treatment,Outcome, Patient-Relevant,Outcome, Rehabilitation,Outcome, Treatment,Outcomes, Patient-Relevant,Patient Relevant Outcome,Patient-Relevant Outcomes

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