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  • Title: [Favorable results of plasmapheresis in severe myasthenia gravis].
    Author: Blom RJ, Kuks JB, Westerterp-Maas A, Oosterhuis HJ.
    Journal: Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd; 1997 Feb 22; 141(8):381-4. PubMed ID: 9157298.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the additional effect of plasma exchange in treatment with steroids of severe myasthenia gravis. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Groningen, the Netherlands. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The clinical course was analysed in 24 patients with a total of 28 plasma exchange treatments. Prednisone was introduced or its maintenance dose was increased in 19 cases. Another 13 patients with severe myasthenia gravis were included to study the effect of prednisone monotherapy. RESULTS: Of the patients treated with plasma exchange and steroids 71% improved within the first week of treatment as against only 15% of the patients treated with prednisone monotherapy. After two weeks of plasma exchange plus prednisone or prednisone monotherapy, 88% and 69%, respectively were ameliorated. None of the patients receiving plasma exchange deteriorated or experienced adverse effects or complications due to plasma exchange. Of the patients receiving prednisone monotherapy 31% deteriorated in the first week of treatment. CONCLUSION: Patients with severe myasthenia gravis may safely be treated with plasma exchange in combination with prednisone. In our patient group, a state of rapid aggravation was cut short more quickly by prednisone plus plasma exchange than by prednisone monotherapy.
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