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: Department of Medicine, College of Medicine PB35, Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khoud 123, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. Fax. +968 513419. E-mail: jacobpc@omantel.net.om.
authors: Poovathoor C
authors: PC
authors: Jacob
authors: John T
authors: JT
authors: Tharakan
authors: Pratap R
authors: PR
authors: Chand
authors: Roshan L
authors: RL
authors: Koul
authors: Alexander P
authors: AP
authors: Chacko