[Prognosis of myastenia (author's transl)]

The authors refer to a follow up study on 83 cases of myasthenia ranging from 2 to 40 years duration. Cases of only two years duration were taken into consideration since the mortality from myasthenia occurs almost totally in the first few years of the disease. A favorable response to therapy occurred in approximately 66.7% of cases; 9.8% of which presented with a complete "restitutio ad integrum" with total suspension of all therapy, the remaining 56.9% presented with objective clinical improvement with reduction in dosage of anticholinesterase drugs. Death occur in approximately 24%. The outcome of cases treated by surgical intervention (thymectomy) is a function of the absence or presence of thymic hyperplasia or a thymoma: Good results occured in 64% of the cases. The data collected confirm other reports in the literature. In view of the number of observations a more optimisitic attitude toward myasthenic patients is justified. Some doubts are expressed as to the appropriateness of the adjective "gravis" by which Jolly catagorized myasthenia yet keeping in mind the seriousness of the disease.