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Frequency and features of myasthenia gravis developing after thymectomy
Author(s) -
Uzawa A.,
Kanai T.,
Oda F.,
Ozawa Y.,
Yasuda M.,
Kawaguchi N.,
Himuro K.,
Yoshino I.,
Kuwabara S.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
european journal of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1468-1331
pISSN - 1351-5101
DOI - 10.1111/ene.14052
Subject(s) - thymectomy , myasthenia gravis , thymoma , medicine , gastroenterology , anesthesia , surgery
Background and purpose Thymectomy is an effective treatment for myasthenia gravis ( MG ) with anti‐acetylcholine receptor ( AC hR) antibodies. We rarely encounter patients who develop MG after surgery for thymic tumors. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics and frequency of post‐thymectomy onset (PostTx) MG . Methods We reviewed the clinical information of thymoma‐associated MG in 158 patients. Of these, 18 (11%) patients with PostTx MG were identified. Results The presence of anti‐ AC hR antibodies (82%) and electrophysiological abnormalities (50%) was confirmed before thymectomy in patients with PostTx MG . The clinical characteristics of PostTx MG were similar to those of pre‐thymectomy onset (PreTx) MG. In PostTx MG , the duration between thymectomy and MG onset were distributed as < 6 months (early‐onset PostTx MG ) and ≥ 6 months (late‐onset PostTx MG ). Notably, some patients with late‐onset PostTx MG were associated with thymoma relapse. Conclusion Our results suggest that approximately 11% of patients with thymoma‐associated MG were PostTx MG and pre‐surgical assessment of anti‐ AC hR antibody titer or electrophysiological testing may predict PostTx MG development. However, no difference in clinical manifestation and prognosis was observed between PreTx MG and PostTx MG .