Long-term follow-up of myasthenia gravis patients with hyperthyroidism.
OBJECTIVE
To access clinical characteristics and treatment outcome of myasthenia gravis (MG) patients with hyperthyroidism (HT).


METHODS
The clinical characteristics of 51 MG patients with HT were studied. The treatment outcome was analysed in 34 patients, comparing high-dosage prednisolone (HDP) (group IS), HDP and/or immunosuppressants with antithyroid drugs (group IS + antiHThyr), antithyroid drugs (group antiHThyr), and thymectomy.


RESULTS
The prevalence of HT in MG was 17.5%. Group IS showed higher remission of both diseases compared with group antiHThyr, but not with group IS + antiHThyr. Remission of HT and relapse of both diseases showed no difference among the three groups. Ten patients who had thymectomies had a lower relapse of MG but not of HT, whilst remission of both diseases was no different to 24 non-thymectomy patients.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed a high prevalence of HT in Thai MG. HDP alone can induce remission of both diseases without difference in relapse. Thymectomy lowers MG relapse further but has no influence on HT.
Ratanakorn
D
D
Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Vejjajiva
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008861:Microsomes / Q000276:immunology; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015995:Prevalence; D013934:Thymectomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D013956:Antithyroid Agents; D001323:Autoantibodies; C006606:anti-thyroglobulin; D011239:Prednisolone