title: Randomized trial of azathioprine or prednisone for initial immunosuppressive treatment of myasthenia gravis.
abstract: Ten patients with myasthenia gravis were randomized to azathioprine or prednisone as the initial immunomodulating drug and followed for over one year. Of five patients randomized to azathioprine, two had idiosyncratic reactions and were immediately crossed over to prednisone. Two patients completed one year on azathioprine with little or no change in level of function and were crossed over to prednisone and showed greater improvement. The fifth patient on azathioprine had a satisfactory improvement and continued on it during the second year. All patients initially randomized to prednisone improved, but the degree varied among patients. The side effects of azathioprine were idiosyncratic reactions. The side effects of prednisone were manageable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Bromberg
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wald
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Forshew
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Albers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011241:Prednisone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D001379:Azathioprine; D011241:Prednisone