title: Long-term results of corticosteroid therapy in patients with myasthenia gravis.
abstract: We studied the long-term outcome of prednisone therapy in 104 patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). At the end of the follow-up period, good therapeutic results were recorded in 85 patients (81.7%), poor results in 13 (12.5%) and no significant change of MG status in 6 (5.8%). We found a correlation between the duration of treatment and the incidence of steroid side effects. The presence of thymoma and severe forms of MG were associated with relapsing disease requiring prolonged corticosteroid regimens. The age at the start of therapy did not influence significantly the response to treatment.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Evoli
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Batocchi
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Palmisani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lo Monaco
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tonali
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D013934:Thymectomy
chemical_list: D011241:Prednisone