ABSTRACT
The article deals with the treatment of myasthenia in 33 children whose ages ranged from 3 to 15 years. Myasthenia of moderate severity was diagnosed in 14, severe in 15, and extremely severe in 2 children. To make a precise diagnosis, loading, neostigmine methylsulfate, cold, and D-tubocurarine tests were conducted. Thymectomy was performed in 32 patients. The operation was carried out through a T-shaped sternotomy approach. Thymogenic myasthenia was verified in 31 patients and thymomogenic only in one patient. There were no fatal outcomes. The late-term results were studied in 12 patients in follow-up periods of 3 to 6 years. Adaptational activity of the patients, anticholinesterase agents and the results of stimulant electric myography served as the criterion in appraising the late-term results. Modern diagnostic methods and surgical intervention ensure a favourable result in 75% of patients.
Subject(s)
Myasthenia Gravis/surgery , Thymectomy/methods , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Male , Myasthenia Gravis/diagnosis , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Results of examining the blood serum of 90 patients with disseminated sclerosis, 94 patients with other nervous diseases, and 20 healthy subjects using the glia migration inhibition test are presented. It is shown that the index of the glia migration inhibition (IGMI) gets higher during exacerbation of the disseminated sclerosis and drops in cases of relative stabilization of the clinical manifestations and remission. In the course of treatment with immunodepressants, such as, prednisolone (alone, or in combination with cyclophosphan) and antilymphocytic immunoglobulin, the IGMI falls down. Possible use of the IGMI for determining the indications for the immunodepressant therapy and for solving differential diagnostic and therapy control problems is discussed.
Subject(s)
Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use , Multiple Sclerosis/blood , Neuroglia/immunology , Antilymphocyte Serum/therapeutic use , Cell Migration Inhibition , Cyclophosphamide/therapeutic use , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Multiple Sclerosis/therapy , Prednisolone/therapeutic useABSTRACT
Results of a study on the content of circulating autoantibodies and on the activity of sensitized leucocytes in 60 albino rats with an experimentally severed half of the spinal cord are reported. An investigation carried our in dynamics of the process (up to 60 days) after injury demonstrated the development of autosensitization during the first 2 weeks and a substantial progressive intensification of it in the course of the following 1 1/2 months. A parallelism between the appearance of specific autoantibodies and the alteration of leucocytes in response to homoantigen from the tissues of the spinal cord, brain, peripheral nerves and muscles as noted. The pathogenetic significance of specific autosensitization in experimental injuries of the spinal cord should be subject to further studies.
