Value of exchangeable electrolyte measurement in the treatment of myasthenia gravis.

We have investigated electrolyte exchange in myasthenia gravis before and after corticotrophin therapy, using a four-isotope dilution technique. Clinical deterioration in patients on corticotrophin is associated with a fall of more than 20% in the intracellular potassium concentration, suggesting that all myasthenics so treated should be given potassium supplementation.

Benefit from adrenocorticotrophin in myasthenia gravis.

Twenty-one of 29 patients suffering from myasthenia gravis derived benefit from a short intensive course of adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH). The mean duration of benefit was approximately six months. The best results were obtained in patients with a short history of myasthenia. Transient deterioration during the course of injections was encountered in some cases but necessitated assisted respiration only in patients with severe generalized weakness before treatment.

Long-term treatment of multiple sclerosis with azathioprine.

Nineteen patients with multiple sclerosis were treated with azathioprine for two years. There was no evidence that treatment prevented deterioration or reduced the number or severity of the relapses when compared with 24 control patients observed over the same period.