[Cathemnesis of patients with myasthenia]

Fifty patients with myasthenia were followed up, including 26 surgically treated cases (thymectomy) and 24 conservatively treated ones. Improvement was obtained after thymectomy in 10 cases (73%) and in 12 (50%) conservatively treated cases. Sixteen patients died, including 6 (23%) treated surgically and 10 (41.6%) treated conservatively. Good results of surgical and conservative treatment were observed in cases with mild or moderately severe course. In severe cases of myasthenia (with respiratory disturbances) surgical and conservative treatment was ineffective. Thymectomy should be carried out early before appearance of respratory failure.