We studied 59 children with myasthenia gravis (MG). Disease onset was pre-pubertal in 26 patients and post-pubertal in 33. The male to female ratio was 0.62 in the early- and 0.17 in the late-onset groups. The frequency of ocular MG was higher in patients with prepubertal onset. Patients with generalized MG generally showed a good response to thymectomy and corticosteroid therapy proved effective with no major side-effects. In our experience early-onset MG has the same course as in adult life. We recommend thymectomy for generalized disease in childhood, except in very young children on account of possible long-term effects on immunological development. Immunosuppressive therapy should be considered in severely affected patients who do not respond adequately to other therapies.

Batocchi, A. P., Evoli, A., Palmisani, M., Lo Monaco, M., Bartoccioni, E., Tonali, P. A., Early-onset myasthenia gravis: clinical characteristics and response to therapy, <<EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS>>, 1990; 150 (1990): 66-68 [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/18619]

Early-onset myasthenia gravis: clinical characteristics and response to therapy

Batocchi, Anna Paola;Evoli, Amelia;Lo Monaco, Mauro;Bartoccioni, Emanuela;
1990

Abstract

We studied 59 children with myasthenia gravis (MG). Disease onset was pre-pubertal in 26 patients and post-pubertal in 33. The male to female ratio was 0.62 in the early- and 0.17 in the late-onset groups. The frequency of ocular MG was higher in patients with prepubertal onset. Patients with generalized MG generally showed a good response to thymectomy and corticosteroid therapy proved effective with no major side-effects. In our experience early-onset MG has the same course as in adult life. We recommend thymectomy for generalized disease in childhood, except in very young children on account of possible long-term effects on immunological development. Immunosuppressive therapy should be considered in severely affected patients who do not respond adequately to other therapies.
1990
Inglese
Batocchi, A. P., Evoli, A., Palmisani, M., Lo Monaco, M., Bartoccioni, E., Tonali, P. A., Early-onset myasthenia gravis: clinical characteristics and response to therapy, <<EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS>>, 1990; 150 (1990): 66-68 [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/18619]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10807/18619
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