title: [The prognosis of juvenile myasthenia gravis].
abstract: In 18 patients with juvenile myasthenia gravis (MG) the mean age of disease-onset was 12.1 years. The mean observation time was 6.8 years. After classification with regard to the clinical severity of the disease (Ossermann, 1958) 4 patients (22%) could be assigned to type I, 10 patients (56%) to type II A, 2 patients (11%) to type II B, and 2 patients (11%) to type III. 14 patients (77%) could be assigned to type I and type II A, both of them rather benign types. All 4 male patients belonged to this group. The tensilon test, investigated in 15 patients, showed a positive result in 13 cases (87%). The repetitive stimulation was done in 13 patients and was positive only in 6 cases (46%). Investigations in MG-patients without limitation of age showed positive results in about 70%. Increased levels of acetylcholin-receptor-antibody were found in 10 of 11 patients (91%). In 8 patients with the diagnosis MG, type II A and III, a thymectomy was done, 16 patients received cholinesterase-blockers, 1 patient with type II A, and both patients in group III received additionally azathioprin. In 1 patient with type III plasmapheresis was done. 75% of all thymectic patients showed a remission or improvement. Related to all 18 patients we found in 16 cases (89%) a remission or correction of the symptoms. In summary the prognosis in the group of our patients with juvenile myasthenia gravis was good.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik für Neuropsychiatrie des Kindes- und Jugendalters.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Toifl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zeitlhofer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vass
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology; D013934:Thymectomy
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D001379:Azathioprine
vernacular_title: Prognose der juvenilen Myasthenia gravis.