Plasma-exchange combined with immunosuppressive therapy in myasthenia gravis.
Twenty-one patients with myasthenia gravis underwent a course of plasma exchange combined with immunosuppressive therapy. In fifteen there was dramatic clinical improvement which has been maintained for periods up to 19 months. Nine of these patients now take no anticholinesterase drugs. Six patients had a recurrence 3--9 months after the first course but in the three given a second course remissions were again obtained.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000628:therapy*; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors
D011239:Prednisolone; D001379:Azathioprine