[Adrenal functions in patients with generalized myasthenia in the late postoperative period]

The adrenal gland function was studied in 123 patients with generalized myasthenia before the operative treatment and at the late postoperative period on the basis of measurement of the indices of 24 h urinary excretion of 11-OKS, 17-OKS and catecholamines. A significant decrease in the function of cortical and medullary substance of the adrenal glands in patients before thymectomy was revealed. Normalization of the function of cortical substance was observed only in the second five years after the operation, function of the medullary substance was suppressed at all the periods of examination. Changes in the function of the adrenal glands correlated with clinical status of the patients.