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Myasthenia gravis: a study from India
B S Singhal1, Nisha S Bhatia, T Umesh
1Department of Neurology, Bombay Hospital Institute of Medical Sciences, Mumbai - 400 020, India. bssinghal@gmail.com
Neurology India
|November 1, 2008
Summary
This study analyzed 841 myasthenia gravis patients in India over 43 years. Myasthenia gravis predominantly affects males, with distinct age-onset peaks and a high prevalence of acetylcholine receptor antibodies and thymoma.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Immunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Presents findings from the largest hospital-based myasthenia gravis (MG) studies in India.
- Utilizes 43 years of data from a tertiary referral center's Neurology Department.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate clinical presentation, age at onset, and gender distribution in MG patients.
- Determine serological status and thymic pathology in individuals with myasthenia gravis.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a retrospective study of myasthenia gravis patient records.
- Data collected spanned from 1965 to 2008.
Main Results:
- Analyzed 841 patients: 836 with acquired MG and 5 with congenital MG.
- Median age at onset was 48 years (males 53, females 34), with peak onset in males (6th-7th decade) and females (3rd decade).
- 84.70% of 281 tested patients were positive for Acetylcholine receptor (AchR) antibodies; thymoma was the most common histopathology, followed by thymic hyperplasia.
Conclusions:
- Myasthenia gravis is more prevalent in males (M:F ratio 2.70:1) with specific age-onset peaks.
- Higher thymoma prevalence may be due to selection bias from thymectomy in severe cases.
- Thymoma was more frequent in males, while thymic hyperplasia was more common in females.
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