RESPONSE TO THYMECTOMY IN CHINESE PATIENTS WITH MYASTHENIA-GRAVIS

Myasthenia gravis was diagnosed in 48 patients between 1985 and 1991 i n this Chinese community. Thymectomy was performed on 36 patients and the mean postoperative follow-up period was 49 months. Significant imp rovement was seen in 72% of the thymectomised patients, with 33% achie ving complete remission. Patients with mild generalised myasthenia at presentation or those found to have thymic hyperplasia had the best pr ognosis. Patients with more severe symptoms or those with an underlyin g thymoma also responded favourably. Only patients with ocular myasthe nia or those with a normal or atrophic thymus gland had no more than a n even chance of gaining significant improvement. Although previous re ports suggested a high prevalence of ocular myasthenia and of thymoma among Chinese myasthenic patients, the present study has found no evid ence that they respond differently to thymectomy than their Western co unterparts.