[Thymopentin 5 in treatment of relapse after extended thymectomy: a randomized comparative clinical trial of 135 patients with myasthenia gravis].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of thymopentin 5 (TP5) combined with immunosuppressive agents in treatment of relapse after extended thymectomy in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG).


METHODS
One hundred thirty-five MG patients who were to undergo extended thymectomy, 62 adults and 73 children, were randomly assigned to 2 groups: non-TP5 group (n = 60) treated with intramuscular injection of prednisone + pyridostigmine daily for 3 months as a basic treatment, and TP5 group (n = 73), treated with prednisone + pyridostigmine + TP5 for 3 months. Follow-up was conducted for more than 1 year.


RESULTS
The remission rates of children in the TP5 group at different time points were all markedly higher than those in the non-TP5 group, and the remission rates of children in the TP5 group during the period of 2 months to 2 years after thymectomy were all significantly higher (all P < 0.05). And the remission rates of the adults of the TP5 group during the period of 6 months to 2 years after thymectomy were all significantly higher than those of the non-TP5 group (all P < 0.05). In the pediatric cases the withdrawal rate of the TP5 group was significantly higher, and the relapse rate was significantly lower than those of the non-TP5 group. No side effect developed during the follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
TP5 is effective in reducing relapse and has a higher drug withdrawal rate, especially among children.
Liu
Wei-bin
WB
Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China. ranliuz@163.com
He
Xue-tao
XT
Chen
Zhen-guang
ZG
Zhang
Ying
Y
Huang
Xin
X
Huang
Ru-xun
RX
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D013934:Thymectomy; D016305:Thymopentin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016305:Thymopentin