title: Topical naphazoline in the treatment of myasthenic blepharoptosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  When treating ocular myasthenia gravis (MG), the risk/benefit profile of corticosteroids is unclear, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are not very effective. We examined the efficacy of topical naphazoline in the treatment of myasthenic blepharoptosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty MG patients with blepharoptosis (32 with ocular symptoms only and 28 with mild generalized symptoms) were enrolled in a multicenter open trial of topical naphazoline. The effects were reported by patients via a questionnaire and were also confirmed for each patient at the clinic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 70 eyes of 60 patients, 20 eyes (28.6%) of 17 patients (28.3%) exhibited a marked response (full eye opening), and 24 eyes (34.3%) of 20 patients (33.3%) showed a good response (adequate but incomplete eye opening). Topical naphazoline was evaluated as useful in the treatment of myasthenic blepharoptosis by >70% of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical naphazoline was found to be an effective supplementary symptomatic treatment for myasthenic blepharoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hanamaki General Hospital, 4-28 Kajoh-chou, Hanamaki 025-0075, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuriko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nagane
authors.forename: Kimiaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Utsugisawa
authors.forename: Shigeaki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Hiroya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Utsumi
authors.forename: Shinichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uchiyama
authors.forename: Norihiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001763:Blepharoptosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009278:Naphazoline / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019999:Pharmaceutical Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019999:Pharmaceutical Solutions; D009278:Naphazoline