Abstract | BACKGROUND/AIMS: METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed long-term effects of the EAT strategy ( duration of therapy: 4.1 years) for 49 de novo MG patients and compared the effects to those of high-dose oral prednisolone therapy for 22 patients. RESULTS: The EAT group achieved marked early improvement with much lower doses of oral prednisolone compared to the high-dose prednisolone group. The patients who achieved MM with prednisolone ≤5 mg/day were more frequent in the EAT group at both 1 year (57.1 vs. 4.5%) and final observation (77.6 vs. 27.3%). Both new-onset diabetes and patients who had complained of moon face were less frequent in the EAT group. However, in the EAT group, due to a temporary inability to maintain MM, additional short-term hospitalizations to return to MM by EAT were required. CONCLUSIONS: The EAT strategy has advantages of early improvement with less frequent steroid-related complications. The labor and cost required are evident disadvantages.
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Authors | Yuriko Nagane, Shigeaki Suzuki, Norihiro Suzuki, Kimiaki Utsugisawa |
Journal | European neurology
(Eur Neurol)
Vol. 65
Issue 1
Pg. 16-22
( 2011)
ISSN: 1421-9913 [Electronic] Switzerland |
PMID | 21116111
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Copyright | Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel. |
Chemical References |
- Immunosuppressive Agents
- Prednisolone
- Methylprednisolone
|
Topics |
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Humans
- Immunosuppressive Agents
(administration & dosage)
- Methylprednisolone
(administration & dosage)
- Myasthenia Gravis
(therapy)
- Plasmapheresis
- Prednisolone
(administration & dosage)
- Retrospective Studies
- Treatment Outcome
|