title: [Favorable results of plasmapheresis in severe myasthenia gravis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluation of the additional effect of plasma exchange in treatment with steroids of severe myasthenia gravis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Groningen, the Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical course was analysed in 24 patients with a total of 28 plasma exchange treatments. Prednisone was introduced or its maintenance dose was increased in 19 cases. Another 13 patients with severe myasthenia gravis were included to study the effect of prednisone monotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the patients treated with plasma exchange and steroids 71% improved within the first week of treatment as against only 15% of the patients treated with prednisone monotherapy. After two weeks of plasma exchange plus prednisone or prednisone monotherapy, 88% and 69%, respectively were ameliorated. None of the patients receiving plasma exchange deteriorated or experienced adverse effects or complications due to plasma exchange. Of the patients receiving prednisone monotherapy 31% deteriorated in the first week of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with severe myasthenia gravis may safely be treated with plasma exchange in combination with prednisone. In our patient group, a state of rapid aggravation was cut short more quickly by prednisone plus plasma exchange than by prednisone monotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Academisch Ziekenhuis, Kliniek voor Neurologie, Groningen.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Blom
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kuks
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Westerterp-Maas
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Oosterhuis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011241:Prednisone
vernacular_title: Gunstige resultaten van plasmaferese bij ernstige myasthenia gravis.