The effect of prednisone on the progression from ocular to generalized myasthenia gravis

Fifty percent of ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG) patients will progress to generalized myasthenia, 90% within 3 years from the onset of ocular symptoms. This study was performed to determine whether treatment with oral prednisone initiated and completed within 2 years from the onset of ocular symptoms would affect the progression of ocular myasthenia to generalized myasthenia gravis (GMG). Fifty-six patients were included in this review, with 27 patients in the prednisone-treated group and 29 patients in the untreated group. The treated group was initiated on 60 mg of prednisone daily with a slow taper over 3-6 months. At 2 years, significantly fewer patients in the treated group (3 of 27) progressed to generalized myasthenia when compared to the untreated group (10 of 29) (chi(2), p=0.04). Our results suggest that the early use of steroids may decrease progression of ocular to generalized myasthenia gravis. The decision to use steroids should be considered early in the course of patients diagnosed with ocular myasthenia gravis. This study should be considered preliminary and a prospective trial is warranted to confirm our observations.     

小儿眼型重症肌无力向全身型转化的临床特点

目的 研究小儿眼型重症肌无力(ocular myasthenia gravis,OMG)向全身型重症肌无力(generalized myasthenia gravis,GMG)的转型率、转型时间及使用泼尼松对转型的影响.方法 回顾性分析1977至2005年青岛大学医学院附属医院诊治的978例小儿OMG转变为GMG的转型率、转型时间以及泼尼松对转型的影响,并与同期诊治的1359例成人OMG患者进行对比分析.结果 小儿OMG转化为GMG的转型率为13.0%(127/978),而成人OMG的转型率为67.2%(913/1359),两组差异有统计学意义(χ2=674.17,P<0.01).OMG的转型时间大多在发病后的2年内,小儿OMG(58.3%,74/127)与成人OMG(83.6%,763/913)在发病后2年内转型的比率差异有统计学意义(χ2=45.39,P<0.01).使用泼尼松的456例小儿OMG患者中仅有5例(1.1%)转为GMG,而从未使用过泼尼松的522例小儿OMG患者中有122例(23.4%)变为GMG,差异有统计学意义(χ2=104.9,P<0.01).结论 小儿OMG转型率与成人OMG相比显著减少;转型的时间大多在发病后头2年内;泼尼松确实能减少小儿OMG向GMG转化的机会.     

Ocular myasthenia gravis in a senior population: Diagnosis,therapy, and prognosis

The objectives of this study were (I) to explore the prognosis of ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG) in patients with onset at age 70 years and above (i.e. senior persons); (2) to identify predictors of secondary generalization in this age group; and 3) to address the effects of immunotherapy on this population of patients. We performed a retrospective analysis of 39 patients with myasthenia gravis who presented with only ocular signs and symptoms after age 70 years. Generalized myasthenia gravis (GMG) developed in 12 OMG patients (31%). None of the GMG patients required ventilator assistance or a feeding tube. Of the 12 ocular patients progressing to GMG, only one (8%) received immunotherapy prior to generalization. Of those OMG patients who did not progress to GMG, 52% received immunomodulatory therapy. Our senior OMG patients had a prognosis comparable with those of the published data for younger individuals. Although the presence of increased acetylceholine receptor antibody titers and occasionally abnormal repetitive nerve stimulation were useful tools to diagnose OMG, no test was predictive of later generalization. Senior onset OMG patients who received immunotherapy less frequently developed GMG than those not so treated. Muscle Nerve, 2010     

眼肌型重症肌无力进展为全身型重症肌无力的临床相关因素分析

目的 :探讨眼肌型重症肌无力进展为全身型重症肌无力的临床相关预测因素。方法 :33例初诊为眼肌型重症肌无力的患者经过3年随访,根据疾病进展结局分为眼肌型重症肌无力组(13例)和进展为全身型重症肌无力组(20例)。对与疾病进展可能相关的临床因素进行分析。结果 :进展为全身型重症肌无力组患者初诊时的定量重症肌无力评分、乙酰胆碱受体抗体阳性率、抗核抗体阳性率、合并胸腺瘤的比例以及合并糖尿病的比例均高于眼肌型重症肌无力组(P值均0.05)。结论 :定量重症肌无力评分高、乙酰胆碱受体抗体阳性、抗核抗体阳性以及合并胸腺瘤和糖尿病可能是眼肌型重症肌无力进展为全身型重症肌无力的预测指标。     

Ocular myasthenia gravis: predictive value of single-fiber electromyography.

Extraocular muscle weakness is the most common presenting sign of myasthenia gravis (MG). More than half of patients presenting with symptoms isolated to these muscles (OMG) develop generalized myasthenia gravis (GMG) over the course of their illness. No clinical, laboratory, or electrophysiological features are recognized that identify these high-risk patients. We have therefore assessed the ability of single-fiber electromyography (SFEMG) to predict the development of GMG in patients presenting with OMG. Thirty-nine consecutive patients presenting with OMG underwent SFEMG of the extensor digitorum communis muscle as well as a battery of other laboratory and imaging studies at the time of diagnosis. All patients were followed prospectively for a minimum of 24 months or until they developed GMG. Two patients were excluded, leaving 37 for assessment. Twenty remained with pure OMG for the entire follow-up period (mean, 55 months). Twenty-six of the 37 had abnormal SFEMG studies at presentation. Eleven of these remained with OMG and 15 developed GMG. Fifty-eight percent of patients with an abnormal SFEMG developed GMG, whereas 82% of those with a normal study remained with OMG. Thus, a normal SFEMG was associated with MG remaining restricted to the extraocular muscles. (P = 0.036, Fisher's exact test), but an abnormal SFEMG was not predictive of subsequent development of GMG.     

眼肌型及全身型重症肌无力患者外周血T淋巴细胞Fas的表达

目的 探讨Fas介导的细胞凋亡与眼肌型(ocular myasthenia gravis,OMG)及全身型重症肌无力(generalized myasthenia gravis,GMG)发病的关系.方法 采用流式细胞技术检测4例OMG、13例GMG患者及13例健康对照组外周血淋巴细胞中CD4、CD8及Fas的表达.结果 OMG、GMG组与对照组外周血T淋巴细胞表面CD4、CD8分子表达的差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).GMG组与对照组外周血T淋巴细胞中Fas+细胞比例的差异有统计学意义(41.72%±8.73%、31.22%±13.00%,P:0.017).GMG组与对照组Fas表达增高者比例的差异有统计学意义(61.5%、15,4%,P=0.041).Fas表达增高的GMG患者病情较重.病程较长.胸腺瘤发生率较高.OMG与GMG组外周血T淋巴细胞中Fa8+、CD4+Fas+、CD8+Fas+细胞比例差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).结论 GMG患者外周血T淋巴细胞中Fas的表达升高,OMG与GMG患者外周血T淋巴细胞中Fas的表达无显著差异,二者可能同属一种系统性疾病.     

Mycophenolate mofetil for ocular myasthenia

Objective To study the safety and tolerability of mycophenolate mofetil (MM), since this steroid-sparing immunomodulatory agent with less side effects, compared to corticosteroids, may be considered for long-term management of ocular myasthenia (OMG). Methods Consecutive patients with OMG started on MM between December 2000 and December 2002 were followed up to December 2006. Results All of the 31 patients with OMG were treated with prednisone at 40–60 mg/d while MM was increased up to the target of 1.0 g/d. After symptoms completely resolved, all patients were then tapered off prednisone over a period of 4 weeks. Eightyseven percent (27/31) of patients continued on MM during the study. Mycophenolate mofetil discontinuation occurred in 4/31 (13%) of patients within the first four months of starting the drug. Of the patients who continued on MM, 93% (25/27) remained at stage I of the disease. The 7% (2/27) of patients on MM who generalized in our study did so by 2 years and were treated with additional prednisone. MM-related adverse events included nausea in 9 of 31 patients, diarrhea in 5 of 31 patients, and vomiting in 1/31 patients. No cases of infections, cytopenias, or malignancies were observed. Conclusions Eighty-seven percent of OMG patients on corticosteroids who were switched to MM remained at Stage I of the disease over a mean period of 4.2 years. MM at 1.0 g/d was safe and tolerable as a long-term immunosuppressant for OMG.     

Autoimmunity in ocular and generalised myasthenia gravis

Restricted ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG) and generalised myasthenia gravis (GMG) have been shown to differ in a number of respects. In OMG, anti-acetylcholine receptor, antistriational and antinuclear antibodies were rare relative to their frequency in GMG. In contrast, antithyroid antibodies and a history of thyroid disease were much more prevalent in OMG than in GMG. OMG was not associated with the female predominance seen in GMG and appeared to be relatively common in some races rather than others. It is suggested that different pathogenetic mechnisms are responsible for these two forms of MG.     

Antibody profile may predict outcome in ocular myasthenia gravis

An unsolved issue remains whether there are clinical and immunological features to predict in a single patient the risk of conversion from ocular Myasthenia Gravis (OMG) to generalized disease (GMG) as 50–60% of patients may progress within 1–2 years since onset. Anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies (AChR Abs) are found in up to 50% of OMG patients; muscle-specific tyrosine kinase antibodies (MuSK-Abs) are present in about 70% of the whole seronegative (SN), who usually develop a severe disease with bulbar involvement. We surveyed a cohort of 175 OMG patients with purely ocular symptoms and we compare the outcome of patients with antibodies to AChR or to MuSK with those seronegative for both Abs (DSN). All patients had purely ocular signs for at least 24 months. Gender, age at onset, time to generalization or to worsening in quantitative ocular QMG scores, electrophysiological results were analyzed. Males were 58.9%, females 41.1%. Patients with late onset of symptoms after 50 years (LOMG) were 78.3%. We assayed anti-MuSK-Abs in 4.7%, anti-AChR Abs in 38.5%; 57.3% were defined DSN. Thirty-seven patients (21.1%) progressed to GMG during the observational time: 23 were females, 62% of the whole group of the generalized subjects, 75% of MuSK-positive OMG converted to GMG versus the 26.2% of AChR positive and 13.7% of DSN. Statistical analysis showed that gender and presence of antibodies either to AChR or to MuSK were independent predictors of worse outcome; the DSN subjects had lower risk of conversion to GMG.     

Low conversion rate of ocular to generalized myasthenia gravis in Singapore

Introduction: Ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG) is a common condition of the neuromuscular junction that may convert to generalized myasthenia gravis (GMG). Our aim in this study was to determine the conversion rate and predictive factors for generalization in OMG, in an Asian population. Methods: The investigation consisted of a retrospective study of OMG patients with a minimum 2 years of follow‐up. Results: Among 191 patients with OMG, 155 had the minimum 2‐year follow‐up. The conversion rate at median follow‐up (40.8 months) was 10.6% (95% confidence interval 7.9%–13.3%), and at the 2‐year follow‐up it was 7.7% (95% confidence interval 5.6%–9.8%). At baseline, the predictive factors for generalization were positive acetylcholine receptor antibodies (hazard ratio 3.71, P = 0.024), positive repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) studies (hazard ratio 4.42, P = 0.003), and presence of radiologically presumed or pathologically confirmed thymoma (hazard ratio 3.10, P = 0.013). Discussion: The conversion rate of OMG to GMG in Asian patients is low, as predicted by presence of acetylcholine receptor antibodies, presence of thymoma, and positive RNS studies. Muscle Nerve 57 : 756–760, 2018     

Development of generalized disease at 2 years in patients with ocular myasthenia gravis

BACKGROUND: Generalized myasthenia gravis will develop in more than 50% of patients who present with ocular myasthenia gravis, typically within 2 years. The optimal treatment of ocular myasthenia gravis, including the use of corticosteroids, remains controversial. In addition, the prevalence of thymoma and the optimal performance of the edrophonium chloride test for ocular myasthenia remain unknown. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of oral corticosteroid therapy on the frequency of development of generalized myasthenia gravis within 2 years, the incidence of thymoma, and the amount of edrophonium needed for a positive test result in patients with ocular myasthenia gravis. METHODS: We reviewed an ocular myasthenia gravis database of 147 patients. Patients underwent measurement of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody levels and chest computed tomography. Unless contraindicated, patients with diplopia were recommended for therapy with prednisone, up to 40 to 60 mg/d, with the dosage tapered for 5 to 6 weeks. Most continued to receive daily or alternate-day doses of 2.5 to 10 mg to prevent diplopia. Patients not given prednisone (untreated group) received pyridostigmine bromide or no medication. After the diagnosis, we documented the signs and symptoms of ocular and generalized myasthenia gravis and performed 2-year follow-up in 94 patients. RESULTS: The mean dose of edrophonium chloride to give a positive response was 3.3 mg (SD, 1.6 mg) for ptosis and 2.6 mg (SD, 1.1 mg) for ocular motor dysfunction. Thymoma occurred in 1 patient (0.7%). Generalized myasthenia gravis developed within 2 years in 4 of 58 treated and 13 of 36 untreated patients. The odds ratio (OR) for development of generalized disease in the treated group was 0.13 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.04-0.45) compared with the untreated group. The AChR antibody level was not predictive of development of generalized myasthenia gravis at 2 years, but the risk was greater in patients with abnormal AChR antibody levels (OR, 6.33; 95% CI, 1.71-23.42). Logistic regression that included age, abnormal AChR antibody level, and prednisone therapy yielded significance only for abnormal AChR antibody level (OR, 7.03; 95% CI, 1.35-36.64) and treatment (OR, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.01-0.30). CONCLUSIONS: At 2 years, prednisone treatment appears to reduce the incidence of generalized myasthenia gravis to 7% in contrast to 36% of patients who did not receive prednisone. Thymoma, although uncommon, occurs in ocular myasthenia gravis. Only small amounts of edrophonium are needed to diagnose ocular myasthenia gravis.     

重症肌无力患者汉密尔顿抑郁量表评分分析

目的探讨重症肌无力(myasthenia gravis,MG)患者汉密尔顿抑郁量表(Hamilton depression rating scale,HDRS)评分情况及其影响因素分析。方法横断面研究2013-07—2015-03作者医院就诊的188例MG患者的临床资料和HDRS评分情况,并根据HDRS评分将其分为抑郁组和非抑郁组,分析两组MG患者的临床特点及其与HDRS评分间的关系。结果所纳入MG患者男女比例为1.02∶1,眼肌型重症肌无力(ocular myasthenia gravis,OMG)和全身型重症肌无力(generalized myasthenia gravis,GMG)的比例为1.2∶1,以OMG起病和以GMG起病患者的比例为6.2∶1,病程中位数为2年,四分位数间距为1.8年,平均量化重症肌无力评分(quantitative myasthenia gravis,QMG)为(6.7±2.3)分,平均HDRS评分为(8.7±3.4)分,并发抑郁者65例,未并发抑郁者123例。影响HDRS评分和抑郁发生的相关因素包括性别(P0.01)、MG类型(P0.01)、QMG得分(P0.01)和美国重症肌无力协会(myasthenia gravis foundation of America,MGFA)分型(P0.01)、有无甲状腺功能亢进(P0.05)。结论影响MG患者HDRS评分和抑郁发生的相关因素包括性别、MG类型、QMG评分和MGFA分型、有无甲状腺功能亢进,充分认识其抑郁发生情况有利于更好地治疗MG。     

青少年起病的重症肌无力患者临床特点分析

目的分析青少年起病的重症肌无力(MG)患者的临床特点。方法回顾性分析2006-2013年作者医院神经内科住院的351例起病年龄≤18岁MG患者的临床资料,包括人口统计学(性别、年龄),临床特点(临床分型、起病症状、疾病转归、胸腺情况)和合并疾病(自身免疫性疾病)。结果青少年起病的MG患者发病年龄小于5岁者占45.9%,女性多见占53.6%。根据美国重症肌无力协会(myasthenia gravis foundation of America,MGFA)分型,Ⅰ型占80.3%,Ⅱa型占8.5%,Ⅱb型占9.1%,Ⅲa型占0.3%,Ⅲb型占1.4%,Ⅳb型占0.3%。由眼肌型MG(OMG)转化为全身型MG(GMG)患者39例(13.8%),主要诱发转化的因素为不规律用药或停药。诱发病情复发或加重的因素中以受凉多见,占63.6%。合并胸腺异常患者有60例,其中28例行胸腺切除术,术后病理分型:胸腺增生20例,胸腺瘤4例。合并有其他自身免疫性疾病共20例,其中甲状腺功能亢进占4.6%,甲状腺功能减低占0.6%,甲状腺囊肿占0.6%。共有6例患者发生过危象,其中5例发生肌无力危象者为由OMG转化为GMG患者。结论青少年MG患者有自己独特的临床特点:5岁之前发病更多见;诱发病情复发或加重的因素中以受凉多见;合并胸腺增生者多于合并胸腺瘤者;最常见的甲状腺功能异常为甲状腺功能亢进。     

眼肌型重症肌无力临床分析

目的总结分析眼肌型重症肌无力患者的临床特征,以为诊断和治疗提供参考依据。方法回顾性分析113例眼肌型重症肌无力患者的临床资料。采用免疫荧光细胞染色方法检测血清乙酰胆碱受体(AChR)抗体和肌肉特异性受体酪氨酸激酶(MuSK)抗体表达水平,分析这两项免疫学指标对眼肌型重症肌无力向全身型转化的预测价值。结果成年发病的眼肌型重症肌无力好发于40岁以上男性,多以眼睑下垂(95例,84.07%)为首发症状,少数以复视(18例,1 5.93%)起病。疲劳试验和新斯的明试验阳性率分别为79.44%(85/107)和84.85%(84/99),低频重复神经电刺激和血清甲状腺抗体异常率分别为44.32%(39/88)和28%(14/50),胸腺增生和胸腺瘤阳性率分别为16.67%(17/102)和11.76%(12/102);血清AChR抗体阳性率为62.83%(71/113);但MuSK抗体均呈阴性。眼肌型重症肌无力向全身型转化率为12.39%(14/113),其中血清AChR抗体强阳性者(13例,28.26%)显著高于弱阳性者(1例,4%),二者差异有统计学意义(X~2=4.587,P=0.032)。结论成年发病的眼肌型重症肌无力好发于中年以上男性,主要表现为眼睑下垂和复视,大多数患者伴发胸腺和甲状腺异常。血清AChR抗体表达水平升高预示向全身型转化率升高,鲜有MuSK抗体阳性反应。     

Expression of Immune Molecules CD25 and CXCL13 Correlated with Clinical Severity of Myasthenia Gravis

Differential expressions of immune molecules have been shown in the thymi with pathological results, including myasthenia gravis (MG). CD25 is an activation marker expressed on T cells. CXCL13 mediates the homing and motility of B cells in secondary lymphoid tissues. Herein, we investigated the expressions of CD25 and CXCL13 in the thymi of thymic hyperplasia patients with MG or with non-MG. A total of 34 thymic hyperplasia patients with MG (20 generalized MG (GMG) and 14 ocular MG (OMG) and six thymic hyperplasia patients without MG were enrolled and analyzed using immunohistochemical staining and real-time polymerase chain reaction for CD25 and CXCL13. Our study demonstrated a higher expression of both CD25 and CXCL13 in hyperplastic thymi with OMG or GMG compared to those with non-MG. According to the immunohistochemical results, we observed that CD25 expression was significantly lower in atrophic thymi and non-MG hyperplastic thymi, compared with that in infant thymi (P?=?0.002 and 0.005, respectively). In contrast to CD25 expression, we did not observe differential expression of CXCL13 among three control groups. And a similar CD25 mRNA expression was found in real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results. We observed that both hyperplastic thymi with OMG or GMG expressed significantly higher levels of CD25 than those with non-MG (P?=?0.007 and 0.001, respectively). And an increase of CD25 expression was observed in hyperplastic thymi with GMG compared to those with OMG (P?=?0.030). Similarly, CXCL13 expression was significantly higher in hyperplastic thymi with GMG or with OMG than those with non-MG (P?=?0.001 and 0.050, respectively). No significant CXCL13 expression difference was found between hyperplastic thymi with GMG and those with OMG (P?>?0.05). The real-time PCR results showed a similar tendency of CD25 mRNA expression among the thymi of non-MG, OMG, and GMG patients, but the difference did not reach significance (P?>?0.05). An obvious increased expression of CXCL13 was found in hyperplastic thymi with GMG patients, compared to those with non-MG and OMG patients (P?=?0.003 and 0.071, respectively). There was no difference found between hyperplastic thymi with non-MG and with OMG. Regression analysis showed a positive correlation between thymic CD25 level and MG symptom severity (F?=?28.240; P?=?0.000, r?=?0.523). Similarly, a positive correlation was found between thymic CXCL13 expression and MG disease severity (F?=?36.093; P?=?0.000, r?=?0.671). Taken together, our findings suggest CD25 and CXCL13 participate in the pathogenesis of MG and may influence the clinical symptoms of MG.     

Factors affecting outcome in ocular myasthenia gravis

Aim of the study: 50%–60% of patients with ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG) progress to generalized myasthenia gravis (GMG) within two years. The aim of our study was to explore factors affecting prognosis of OMG and to test the predictive role of several independent clinical variables.

Materials and methods: We reviewed a cohort of 168 Caucasian patients followed from September 2000 to January 2016. Several independent variables were considered as prognostic factors: gender, age of onset, results on electrophysiological tests, presence and level of antibodies against acetylcholine receptors (AChR Abs), treatments, thymic abnormalities. The primary outcome was the progression to GMG and/or the presence of bulbar symptoms. Secondary outcomes were either achievement of sustained minimal manifestation status or worsening in ocular quantitative MG subscore (O-QMGS) or worsening in total QMG score (T-QMGS), assessed by Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) quantitative scores. Changes in mental and physical subscores of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were assessed with SF-36 questionnaire. Variance analysis was used to interpret the differences between AChR Ab titers at different times of follow up among the generalized and non-generalized patients.

Results: Conversion to GMG occurred in 18.4% of patients; it was significantly associated with sex, later onset of disease and anti-AChR Ab positivity. Antibody titer above the mean value of 25.8 pmol/mL showed no significant effect on generalization. Sex and late onset of disease significantly affected T-QMGS worsening. None of the other independent variables significantly affected O-QMGS and HRQoL.

Conclusions: Sex, later onset and anti-AChR Ab positivity were significantly associated with clinical worsening.     

Prednisone 10 days on/10 days off in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Corticosteroids are effective in improving motor function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients within 6 months–2 years of treatment initiation, but there is as yet no consensus on which treatment scheme is the best. We retrospectively analyzed data of 35 DMD patients who were treated with prednisone 0.75 mg/kg per day intermittently 10 days on/10 days off. Prednisone was started during the ambulant phase at age 3.5–9.7 years (median 6.5 years). The median period of treatment was 27 months (range 3–123 months). The median age at which ambulation was lost was 10.8 years (mean 10.9 years; 95% confidence interval 10.0–11.8 years). Nine patients (26%) had excessive weight gain. Eight boys (21%) had a bone fracture, which was when four of these eight children lost the ability to walk. Treatment was stopped in two obese patients, two hyperactive boys and one patient following a fracture. Our data suggest that prednisone 10 on/10 off has relatively few side effects and extends the ambulant phase by 1 year compared to historical controls.     

重症肌无力患者外周血AIRE、Tfh细胞和Tfr细胞与病情严重性相关分析

目的探讨自身免疫性调节因子(AIRE)、滤泡辅助性T(Tfh)细胞和滤泡调节性T(Tfr)细胞与重症肌无力(MG)患者病情严重程度的相关性。方法收集2015-12—2016-4第四军医大学唐都医院收治的MG患者22例,根据临床表现分为全身型MG(GMG)和眼肌型MG(OMG);同期选取健康体检中心查体者10名作为健康对照。收集MG患者详细临床资料,包括美国MG协会(MGFA)分型及定量MG(QMG)评分。通过流式细胞术分析AIRE阳性细胞比例及Tfh/Tfr比值。结果 (1)AIRE表达在各组间比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.01)。GMG组和OMG组AIRE表达均较对照组降低(P0.01,P0.05),而GMG组与OMG组间比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。(2)Tfh/Tfr比值在各组间比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.01)。GMG组和OMG组Tfh/Tfr比值均高于对照组(P0.01,P0.05),且GMG组高于OMG组(P0.05)。(3)MG患者AIRE表达与MGFA分型及QMG评分呈负相关(r=-0.517,P0.05;r=-0.616,P0.01),Tfh/Tfr比值与MGFA分型和QMG评分呈正相关(r=0.761,r=0.581,均P0.01)。结论 AIRE、Tfh/Tfr比值与MG的病情严重程度有一定的相关性,并可能参与了MG的发病。     

非胸腺瘤性眼外肌麻痹起病重症肌无力胸腺切除时机探讨

目的比较非胸腺瘤性眼外肌麻痹起病重症肌无力(ocular onset myasthenia gravis,OMG-O)患者于不同病程行胸腺切除后病情缓解与向全身型重症肌无力(GMG)转化的差异,以期对手术时机进行探讨。方法采用双向队列研究方法,对作者医院2005年1月至2017年9月因药物治疗效果不佳而行胸腺切除的86例OMG-O患者,按起病至手术时间间隔分为早手术组(≤1年)、晚手术组(>1年),比较两组患者不同随访时间理想状态(干预后状态达到轻微异常及更好)率、GMG转化率的差异。结果 (1)与早手术组比较,晚手术组少年MG(<18岁)比例较高,起病至手术时间间隔、起病至使用激素时间间隔、激素用药时间较长(均P <0.05)。(2)与晚手术组比较,早手术组术后第3年理想状态率高(P=0.029),而第2、4~8年理想状态率有升高趋势,但差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。(3)9例术后发生GMG转化,起病至发生GMG转化时间中位数17.8个月,其中6例(66.7%)在3年内发生GMG转化。早手术组与晚手术组间GMG转化率比较,差异无统计学意义(12.5%比8.7%;χ~2=0.049,P=0.825)。结论对于药物治疗无效或不耐受的OMG-O患者,早期行胸腺切除手术疗效较好;但即使手术,仍有可能发生GMG转化,约1/2患者于起病后1.5年内发生,约2/3于起病后3年内发生。     

眼肌型重症肌无力临床分析

目的总结分析眼肌型重症肌无力患者的临床特征,以为诊断和治疗提供参考依据。方法回顾性分析113例眼肌型重症肌无力患者的临床资料。采用免疫荧光细胞染色方法检测血清乙酰胆碱受体（AChR）抗体和肌肉特异性受体酪氨酸激酶（MuSK）抗体表达水平,分析这两项免疫学指标对眼肌型重症肌无力向全身型转化的预测价值。结果成年发病的眼肌型重症肌无力好发于40岁以上男性,多以眼睑下垂（95例,84．07％）为首发症状,少数以复视（18例,15．93％）起病。疲劳试验和新斯的明试验阳性率分别为79．44％（85／107）和84．85％（84／99）．低频重复神经电刺激和血清甲状腺抗体异常率分别为44．32％（39／88）和28％（14／50）,胸腺增生和胸腺瘤阳性率分别为16．67％（17／102）和11．76％（12／102）;血清AChR抗体阳性率为62.83％（71／113）;但MuSK抗体均呈阴性。眼肌型重症肌无力向全身型转化率为12．39％（14／113）,其中血清AChR抗体强阳性者（13例,28．26％）显著高于弱阳性者（1例,4％）,二者差异有统计学意义（X^2=4．587,P=0．032）。结论成年发病的眼肌型重症肌无力好发于中年以上男性,主要表现为眼睑下垂和复视,大多数患者伴发胸腺和甲状腺异常。血清AChR抗体表达水平升高预示向全身型转化率升高,鲜有MuSK抗体阳性反应。