title: Thymectomy for myasthenia gravis: prognostic factors in 70 patients.
abstract: Thymectomy has become increasingly accepted as an efficacious procedure for myasthenia gravis, with high rates of complete clinical remission. Predictors of the response to thymectomy for myasthenia gravis vary in the literature. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 70 patients (63% female; mean age, 38 years) diagnosed with myasthenia gravis from August 1993 to August 2004, to determine the factors predicting outcome. Complications occurred in 20%, but there was no hospital mortality. Complete clinical remission was obtained postoperatively in 47%. Our results indicate that patients with less than 1 year's duration of disease have a better prognosis, and Osserman stages I, IIa, and IIb are also associated with higher clinical remission rates. Female patients have a better prognosis than males, and the younger the patient the better the outcome. Thymectomy is indicated for myasthenia gravis as early as possible in the course of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Razi and Poorsina Teaching Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, 37 Yalda Building, 100 Street, Golsar Avenue, Rasht, Iran. maghajanzadeh2003@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Manucher
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aghajanzadeh
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khoshrang
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohammadzadeh
authors.forename: Seyed A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Roudbari
authors.forename: Amir R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Ghayeghran
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000601:surgery*; D018579:Patient Selection; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D013934:Thymectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome