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. 2018 Dec;20(2):49-59.
doi: 10.1097/CND.0000000000000219.

Satisfactory Response With Achieving Maintenance Low-Dose Prednisone in Generalized Myasthenia Gravis

Ahmad R Abuzinadah  1 , Duaa Jabari  2 , Omar Jawdat  2 , Mamatha Pasnoor  2 , Melanie Glenn  2 , Laura Herbelin  2 , April L McVey  2 , Richard J Barohn  2 , Mazen M Dimachkie  2
Affiliations

Satisfactory Response With Achieving Maintenance Low-Dose Prednisone in Generalized Myasthenia Gravis

Ahmad R Abuzinadah et al. J Clin Neuromuscul Dis. 2018 Dec.

Abstract

Objectives: To estimate the satisfactory response rate (SR%) with achieving maintenance, low-dose prednisone in acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive generalized myasthenia gravis.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we estimate the SR% as defined by (remission/minimal manifestations status for at least 6 months using 7.5 mg or less of prednisone daily, for maintenance treatment at 2, 4, and 6 years after symptoms onset) for patients who were not taking steroid-sparing immunosuppressant (SSI) as a primary outcome and for patients taking an SSI as a secondary outcome.

Results: Forty-five patients were not taking an SSI at 2 years, 34 patients at 4 years, and 17 patients at 6 years; SR% was 44.4%, 64.7%, and 58.8%, respectively. Thirty-six patients were taking an SSI at 2 years, 22 patients at 4 years, and 15 patients at 6 years; the SR% was 50.0%, 45.4%, and 66.7%, respectively.

Conclusions: Nearly half of the generalized myasthenia gravis patients who were not taking an SSI achieved an SR.

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Conflict of interest statement

Author disclosures:

Ahmad R. Abuzinadah reports no disclosures.

Duaa Jabari reports no disclosures.

Omar Jawdat reports no disclosures.

Mamatha Pasnoor reports no disclosures.

Melanie Glen reports no disclosures.

Laura Herbelin reports no disclosures.

April McVey reports no disclosures.

Richard J. Barohn has received research grants from Biomarin, Cytokinetics, Eli Lilly, Food and Drug Administration - Orphan Drug Division, GlaxoSmithKline, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation America, North East ALS Consortium, the National Institute of Health, The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Novartis, PTC Therapeutics, Sanofi/Genzyme, and Teva.

Mazen M. Dimachkie has served on the speaker’s bureau or was a consultant for Alnylam, Audentes, Biomarin, Catalyst, CSL-Behring, Genzyme, Mallinckrodt, Novartis, NuFactor, Octapharma and Terumo. He has received grants from Amicus, Alnylam, Alexion, Biomarin, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Catalyst, CSL-Behring, Food and Drug Administration - Orphan Drug Division, GlaxoSmithKline, Grifols, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Novartis, Genzyme, Octapharma, UCB Biopharma, Viromed and The Myositis Asscociation

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart following CONSORT (consolidating standards of reported trials) guidelines
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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