title: [Thymectomy and immunosuppression in myasthenia gravis: a prospective study].
abstract: Between 1982 and 1988 24 women and 6 men with myasthenia gravis were included in a prospective and standardized diagnostic and therapeutic protocol. Age varied between 10 and 74 years (34 +/- 16, mean +/- standard deviation). Three patients with the ocular form were treated with pyridostigmine. Four patients with the generalized form and advanced age received steroids and/or azathioprine. Twenty-three patients with the generalized form underwent thymectomy followed by prednisone and/or azathioprine. One patient died after complex thymectomy for invasive thymoma. Another died soon after admission in myasthenic/cholinergic crisis. Two other patients had minor complications of thymectomy. Of 19 patients followed for 1-60 (mean 24) months, 11 (58%) are in remission, one of them without any medication.
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Neurologia Clínica, Hospital Nossa Senhora das Graças, Curitiba, Brasil.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Sandmann
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gorz
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Gracia
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Batista
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Seixas
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Bittencourt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013934:Thymectomy / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D001379:Azathioprine; D011241:Prednisone
vernacular_title: Timectomia e imunossupressão em miastenia gravis: estudo prospectivo.