title: Validation of the Besta Neurological Institute rating scale for myasthenia gravis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We validated the scale for myasthenia gravis (MG) developed at the Neurological Institute Foundation of Milan (INCB-MG scale).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 174 patients were evaluated with the INCB-MG and compared with the MG Composite (MGC) as the gold standard. Dimensionality, reliability, and validity of the INCB-MG scale were studied by principal component factor analysis, Cronbach alpha, and Pearson correlation coefficients; interobserver reliability was calculated by the weighted Cohen K coefficient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Generalized and bulbar INCB-MG subscales were unidimensional with excellent consistency; the INCB-MG and MGC scales were strongly correlated. Fatigability assessment was correlated with the INCB-MG generalized, bulbar, and respiratory subscales.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The INCB-MG scale is a reliable tool to assess MG and is strongly correlated with the MGC. The INCB-MG scale is a valid tool for every day practice and should be further investigated for its application in clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: U.O. Neurologia IV - Neuroimmunologia e Malattie Neuromuscolari, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Neurologico C. Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133, Milano.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Antozzi
authors.affiliation: U.O. Neurologia IV - Neuroimmunologia e Malattie Neuromuscolari, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Neurologico C. Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133, Milano.
authors.forename: Greta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brenna
authors.affiliation: U.O. Neurologia IV - Neuroimmunologia e Malattie Neuromuscolari, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Neurologico C. Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133, Milano.
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baggi
authors.affiliation: U.O. Neurologia IV - Neuroimmunologia e Malattie Neuromuscolari, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Neurologico C. Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133, Milano.
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Camera
authors.affiliation: U.O. Neurologia IV - Neuroimmunologia e Malattie Neuromuscolari, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Neurologico C. Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133, Milano.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maggi
authors.affiliation: Unità di Biostatistica ed Epidemiologia Clinica, Dipartimento Sanità Pubblica, Medicina Sperimentale e Forense, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rezzani
authors.affiliation: Unità di Biostatistica ed Epidemiologia Clinica, Dipartimento Sanità Pubblica, Medicina Sperimentale e Forense, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montomoli
authors.affiliation: U.O. Neurologia IV - Neuroimmunologia e Malattie Neuromuscolari, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Neurologico C. Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133, Milano.
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mantegazza
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
keywords: Myasthenia Gravis; disability; outcome; rating scale; validation