title: Immunosuppressive treatment for juvenile myasthenia gravis.
abstract: The result of immunosuppressive treatment in 20 cases of generalized myasthenia gravis with onset before age 16 were analysed. The patients age at the beginning of immunosuppressive treatment ranged from 10 to 22 years. Thirteen patients suffered from a severe form of myasthenia gravis with respiratory attacks, the remaining 7 demonstrated a moderately severe form with bulbar symptoms dominating the clinical picture. Indication for immunosuppressive treatment was lack of or only slight improvement after thymectomy. Prednisone was used in 17 cases, high dosage of methylprednisolone in 8 (in one case twice), azathioprine in 11 and cyclophosphamide in 10. Best results were obtained with cyclophosphamide since significant improvement was recorded in 14/20 of patients. Corticosteroids, i.e. prednisone and high-dose methylprednisolone proved to be of limited value.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical School Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Badurska
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ryniewicz
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Strugalska
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D001379:Azathioprine; D011241:Prednisone; D008775:Methylprednisolone