title: Clinical profile of myasthenia gravis in the Sultanate of Oman.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clinical study and follow up of myasthenia gravis patients in Oman.
  
  
  METHODS
  Follow up of 50 consecutive myasthenia gravis patients referred to the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman for a median period of 3 years from 1997 to 2000. We based the diagnosis on the clinical picture, repetitive nerve stimulation tests and edrophonium test. We performed a computerized tomography scan of the chest and anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies. We reviewed the results of immuno modulatory treatment including thymectomy and compared these with other studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 50 patients, 6 had purely ocular myasthenia. Of the 44 with generalized myasthenia, 28 had bulbar involvement and 12 required ventilatory support. Eight out of 29 thymectomized patients had drug free remission after 2 years. There was worsening of myasthenic symptoms in only one out of 8 pregnancies and deliveries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bulbar and ventilatory involvement are more common in our series as compared with western data. Pregnancy and delivery were well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khoud 123, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. jacobpc@omantel.net.om
authors.forename: Poovathoor C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Tharakan
authors.forename: Pratap R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Chand
authors.forename: Roshan L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Koul
authors.forename: Alexander P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Chacko
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D009850:Oman; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D013934:Thymectomy