Late onset myasthenia: 34 cases in patients over 65 years of age
Billé-Turc, F.; Padovani, R.; Pouget, J.; Serratrice, G.; Billé, J.
Revue Neurologique (Paris) 153(2): 129-134
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0035-3787 PMID: 9296125 Document Number: 480809
This study, a retrospective view of 34 patients with myasthenia gravis, compared the course of the disease for patients with onset before 65 and after 65 years. 70% of those under 65 were female while 55.8% of those over 65 were mate. Bulbar symptoms were more frequent in older patients. Only 3 patients had another immune disease (rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus, thyroid pathology), and two a thymoma. All patients were treated with anticholinesterases. Prednisone was used in 44% of cases and rarely Azathioprine. In our cases and in the review of the literature there is no significant difference between age groups except for the sex ratio and the outcome in the older group in case of thymoma or respiratory failure.