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Topical naphazoline in the treatment of myasthenic blepharoptosis
Yuriko Nagane1, Kimiaki Utsugisawa, Shigeaki Suzuki
1Department of Neurology, Hanamaki General Hospital, 4-28 Kajoh-chou, Hanamaki 025-0075, Japan.
Introduction:
When treating ocular myasthenia gravis (MG), the risk/benefit profile of corticosteroids is unclear, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are not very effective. We examined the efficacy of topical naphazoline in the treatment of myasthenic blepharoptosis.
Methods:
Sixty MG patients with blepharoptosis (32 with ocular symptoms only and 28 with mild generalized symptoms) were enrolled in a multicenter open trial of topical naphazoline. The effects were reported by patients via a questionnaire and were also confirmed for each patient at the clinic.
Results:
Among 70 eyes of 60 patients, 20 eyes (28.6%) of 17 patients (28.3%) exhibited a marked response (full eye opening), and 24 eyes (34.3%) of 20 patients (33.3%) showed a good response (adequate but incomplete eye opening). Topical naphazoline was evaluated as useful in the treatment of myasthenic blepharoptosis by >70% of the patients.
Conclusions:
Topical naphazoline was found to be an effective supplementary symptomatic treatment for myasthenic blepharoptosis.
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