title: Clinical spectrum of myasthenia gravis and problems of management.
abstract: Seventeen cases of myasthenia gravis, aged 20-79 years, including one case of ocular myasthenia gravis, seen over a 3 year period, were analysed. Dysphagia was the presenting symptom in two cases. One patient had ectopic thymus gland in relation to the cardiac border, which posed difficulty in diagnosis. A majority of the patients were on medical treatment, including neostigmine, prednisolone and azathioprim. Plasmapheresis was done in 4 cases during crisis, with significant benefit. One patient was put on intermittent ventilatory support for 14-16 hours a day for over 2 years; she died during a power failure. Seven patients were subjected to thymectomy.
authors.affiliation: Anaesthetist, Neurocentre, Army Hospital, Delhi Cantt.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Dhamija
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Venkataraman
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Sanchetee
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Bhargava
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D013256:Steroids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013934:Thymectomy
chemical_list: D010276:Parasympatholytics; D013256:Steroids