Long-term follow-up of myasthenia gravis patients with hyperthyroidism

Abstract

Objective: To access clinical characteristics and treatment outcome of myasthenia gravis (MG) patients with hyperthyroidism (HT).

Materials and methods: The clinical characteristics of 51 MG patients with HT were studied. The treatment outcome was analysed in 34 patients, comparing high-dosage prednisolone (HDP) (group IS), HDP and/or immunosuppressants with antithyroid drugs (group IS + antiHThyr), antithyroid drugs (group antiHThyr), and thymectomy.

Results: The prevalence of HT in MG was 17.5%. Group IS showed higher remission of both diseases compared with group antiHThyr, but not with group IS + antiHThyr. Remission of HT and relapse of both diseases showed no difference among the three groups. Ten patients who had thymectomies had a lower relapse of MG but not of HT, whilst remission of both diseases was no different to 24 non-thymectomy patients.

Conclusion: This study showed a high prevalence of HT in Thai MG. HDP alone can induce remission of both diseases without difference in relapse. Thymectomy lowers MG relapse further but has no influence on HT.