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Epidemiological study of myasthenia gravis in Sardinia, Italy (1958–1986)
Author(s) -
Giagheddu M.,
Puggioni G.,
Sanna G.,
Tamburini G.,
Marrosu F.,
Rachele M. G.,
Murgia B.,
Rosati G.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1989.tb03793.x
Subject(s) - myasthenia gravis , epidemiology , incidence (geometry) , medicine , disease , pediatrics , thymoma , surgery , physics , optics
— From 1.1.1958 to 31.12.1986, 110 cases of MG were observed in Sardinia, with a mean annual incidence of 2.5 × 1,000,000 inhabitants and prevalence rates of 7.5, 17.6, 31.4 and 45.0 × 1,000,000 inhabitants respectively (prevalence days: 15.10.1961,24.10.1971,25.10.1981 and 31.12.1986). The disease was found to be more frequent in women. There were no differences in the distribution of MG in various areas of the island. The muscle group more frequently involved at onset was the ocular. In 6.4% of patients an association with thyroid disorders was observed. The mortality of MG patients was significantly higher than expected. Removal of the thymus, carried out in 58 patients, was shown to be useful in the treatment of the disease, particularly in patients without thymomas. No familial cases were observed.