title: Juvenile myasthenia gravis and thymectomy: report of ten cases.
abstract: Ten patients from 7 to 12 years of age presented generalized acquired myasthenia gravis: six had a severe form and four a moderate one. All patients showed progressive worsening and poor response to the medical treatment; all of them were submitted to thymectomy by median sternotomy. Long-term results were beneficial for 60% of the patients who experimented a marked improvement or even complete remission. One patient improved without medication being followed for two years. Another patient has been in remission taking only a minimal dose of anticholinesterase drug for seven years. In most cases prednisone has been used as long-term maintenance in the postoperative phase. Short-term results were not favorable: one death occurred and 30% of the patients worsened.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of São Paulo Medical School.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: de Assis
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Marchiori
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Zambon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scaff
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012074:Remission Induction; D013934:Thymectomy
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D011241:Prednisone