Juvenile myasthenia gravis and thymectomy: report of ten cases

Abstract

Ten patients from 7 to 12 years of age presented generalized acquired myasthenia gravis: six had a severe form and four a moderate one. All patients showed progressive worsening and poor response to the medical treatment; all of them were submitted to thymectomy by median sternotomy. Long-term results were beneficial for 60% of the patients who experimented a marked improvement or even complete remission. One patient improved without medication being followed for two years. Another patient has been in remission taking only a minimal dose of anticholinesterase drug for seven years. In most cases prednisone has been used as long-term maintenance in the postoperative phase. Short-term results were not favorable: one death occurred and 30% of the patients worsened.