Myasthenia gravis, thymectomy: early outcome

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted on twenty four patients with myasthenia gravis [grade IIA and IIB], with a median duration of the disease of 12 weeks. All the patients were subjected to trans-sternal thymectomy because acetylcholine estirase inhibitors failed to give a favour clinical improvement. Our results showed that 87.5% 21 out of 24 and 8.33% 2 out of 24 of patients had thymic hyperplasia and malignant thymoma, respectively, Postoperatively, none of the patients required assisted respiration, corticosteroids, or excessive doses of acetylcholine esterate inhibitors. We conclude and advocate that thymectomy should be considered early and specifically for patients with grade IIA and IIB