title: Associated conditions in myasthenia gravis: response to thymectomy.
abstract: To compare the response of thymectomy in patients with associated conditions (PWAC) and without associated conditions (PWOAC). Comparative, retrospective. 198 patients with the established diagnosis of myasthenia gravis who had a thymectomy between 1987 and 2000, and who were folowed up for at least 3 years. We formed two groups, one with associated conditions and the second without associated conditions. The patients were divided into four groups: (i) patients in remission, (ii) patients with improvement, (iii) patients without changes, and (iv) patients whose condition worsened. Associated conditions (AC) were found in 49 patients (26%). The main associated conditions were hyperthyroidism in 16 patients (33%) hypothyroidism in seven (14%), rheumatoid arthritis in five (10%) and hypothyroidism and Sjogren syndrome in three (6%). Concerning the response of thymectomy, 13 patients WAC showed remission (27%), vs. 54 patients WOAC (39%). Twenty patients WAC showed improvement (41%) vs. 46 WOAC (33%). Thirteen patients WAC had no changes (27%) vs. 37 WOAC (26%). Finally, in three patients WAC their condition worsened (6%) vs. three WOAC (2%). The response to thymectomy was high (69%) in both groups. We did not identify significant differences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion, Salvador Zubiran, Delegacion Tlalpan, Mexico. jftellez@quetzal.innsz.mx
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Téllez-Zenteno
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cardenas
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Estañol
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garcia-Ramos
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Weder-Cisneros
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013934:Thymectomy / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic