INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study is to evaluate the demographic characteristics as well as the clinical course, antibody, and electrophysiological characteristics of the patients diagnosed with Myastenia Gravis (MG) followed-up in our clinic.
METHODS: The demographic characteristics as well as the clinical course, antibody, electrophysiological and radiological (thoracic tomography) characteristics of 99 MG patients followed-up in our Neuromuscular and Muscle Diseases Outpatient Clinic for a period of 5 years are examined.
RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 44,38±15,2. The number of patients followed-up as pure ocular MG was 22,22% (n=22). Acetylcholine receptor antibody (AntiAChRAb) was found positive in 53,54% (n=53) of the patients and thymus pathology (Thymoma + post-thymectomy thymic hyperplasia) was found in the thoracic tomography of 42,42% (n=42) of the patients.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Although MG is a disease with well-known immunopathogenesis, in some cases, there may be complications in the follow-up and treatment of MG patients. Therefore, detailed patient follow-up and long-term clinical monitoring is important in MG patients. There are some limitations due to the fact that this is a hospital-based study. An example of such limitations is the lack of data related to responses to the treatment. More extensive epidemiological studies on this matter will be more informative. Detailed patient file recording and administration of individualized treatments will provide positive results in the long term in MG patients who suffer from a chronic disease which progress with flare ups