title: Remission And relapse of myasthenia gravis on long-term azathioprine: An ambispective study.
abstract: Azathioprine (AZA) is commonly used in myasthenia gravis (MG). Treatment may be prolonged, entailing significant risks and avoidable costs.
  
  
  
  We reviewed remission, relapse, and side-effect profiles in MG patients on AZA during treatment and after tapering off. We conducted an ambispective study and analyzed remission, relapse rates, and side-effect profiles in 117 MG patients on AZA.
  
  
  
  Thirty-nine patients (33.3%) achieved remission, and 36 (30.8%) achieved complete stable remission (CSR), with a 33% relapse rate. No AZA side effects were seen in 95 (81%) patients. Only duration of disease of >10 years (odds ratio 9.5, 95% confidence interval 2.4-36.9, P = 0.001) was significantly associated with remission.
  
  
  
  AZA is well tolerated by MG patients, and about 30% go into CSR on long-term AZA. Muscle Nerve, 2016 Muscle Nerve 54: 405-412, 2016.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Cardiothoracic and Neurosciences Centre, Room 706, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India.
authors.forename: Anirban
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Cardiothoracic and Neurosciences Centre, Room 706, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India.
authors.forename: Vinay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Goyal
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Cardiothoracic and Neurosciences Centre, Room 706, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India.
authors.forename: Achal Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Cardiothoracic and Neurosciences Centre, Room 706, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India.
authors.forename: Garima
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shukla
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Cardiothoracic and Neurosciences Centre, Room 706, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India.
authors.forename: Madhuri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Behari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012008:Recurrence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013934:Thymectomy; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013256:Steroids; D001379:Azathioprine
keywords: azathioprine; complete stable remission; myasthenia gravis; relapse; remission; side effects