| Myasthenia gravis: correlation of age with clinical course and anti-AChr antibody levels. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 12783640 Owner: NLM Status: Publisher |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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We studied the significance of age as a factor affecting prognosis and anti-AChR antibody levels in myasthenia gravis, comparing patients with symptom onset before 50 (37 patients) and at or after 50 (33 patients). More of the older patients, compared to younger ones (69.9% versus 32.4%,p<0. 05) progressed to severe disease in the first three years of treatment. Five older patients died during myasthenic crises, whereas no deaths occured in the younger group. In addition; older patients did not respond as favorably as younger ones to anticholinesterase treatment and more of them required combination therapy. AntiAChR antibody levels were significantly lower in older patients (9.2 versus 34.9 nM, p<0.005). We conclude that symptom onset at or after the age of 50 predicts unfavorable outcome in myasthenia gravis and is associated with lower anti-AChR antibody levels. This group of patients requires earlier treatment with corticosteroids, immunosuppressive drugs or both. |
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Authors:
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K Kapinas; V K Kimiskidis; A D Kazis; B Kokkas; M Tsolaki; G Georgiadis |
Publication Detail:
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Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE |
Journal Detail:
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Title: International journal of immunopathology and pharmacology Volume: 12 ISSN: 0394-6320 ISO Abbreviation: Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol Publication Date: 1999 Sep-Dec |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2003-Jun-4 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 8911335 Medline TA: Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol Country: - |
Other Details:
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Languages: ENG Pagination: 127-131 Citation Subset: - |
Affiliation:
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Department of Neurology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. |
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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