摘要
To clarify the current status of treatments and outcomes of patients with myas thenia gravis (MG) in Japan, a total of 470 patients (164 men and 306 women; mea n age 41 years) were recruited from 19 Japanese tertiary medical centers in 1999 -2000. Thymectomy was performed in 319 (68%) of the patients. Patients who rec eived thymectomy were younger (p=0.01) and had more severe disabilities (p < 0.0 1) than patients without thymectomy. Irrespective of receiving thymectomy, most of the patients were administered corticosteroids (64%), other immunosuppressiv e agents (10%), or cholinesterase inhibitors (86%). Of 395 patients followed u p for more than 12 months after treatment (mean 8.0 years), 30%(34%of thymecto mized and 21%of non thymectomized patients) were in remission (no symptoms wit h/without medication), 34%had only ocular symptoms, and the remaining 35%still had weakness of bulbar or limb muscles at the end of follow up. The prognosis of MG in Japan was generally favorable, but despite the frequent use of thymecto my and immunosuppressive treatments, approximately one third of patients still had generalized weakness. More effective or intensive treatments are required to improve the prognosis.
To clarify the current status of treatments and outcomes of patients with myas thenia gravis (MG) in Japan, a total of 470 patients (164 men and 306 women; mea n age 41 years) were recruited from 19 Japanese tertiary medical centers in 1999 -2000. Thymectomy was performed in 319 (68%) of the patients. Patients who rec eived thymectomy were younger (p=0.01) and had more severe disabilities (p < 0.0 1) than patients without thymectomy. Irrespective of receiving thymectomy, most of the patients were administered corticosteroids (64%), other immunosuppressiv e agents (10%), or cholinesterase inhibitors (86%). Of 395 patients followed u p for more than 12 months after treatment (mean 8.0 years), 30%(34%of thymecto mized and 21%of non thymectomized patients) were in remission (no symptoms wit h/without medication), 34%had only ocular symptoms, and the remaining 35%still had weakness of bulbar or limb muscles at the end of follow up. The prognosis of MG in Japan was generally favorable, but despite the frequent use of thymecto my and immunosuppressive treatments, approximately one third of patients still had generalized weakness. More effective or intensive treatments are required to improve the prognosis.
出处
《世界核心医学期刊文摘（神经病学分册）》
2005年第2期47-48,共2页
Digest of the World Core Medical Journals:Clinical Neurology
