1
|
Menghesha H, Schroeter M, Doerr F, Schlachtenberger G, Heldwein MB, Chiapponi C, Wahlers T, Bruns C, Hekmat K. [The value of thymectomy in the treatment of non-thymomatous myasthenia gravis]. Chirurg 2021; 93:48-55. [PMID: 34132824 PMCID: PMC8766382 DOI: 10.1007/s00104-021-01436-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The value of thymectomy in the treatment of non-thymomatous myasthenia gravis has been controversially discussed. The relatively low incidence and prevalence of this disease, the inconsistent documentation in various studies and the necessity of a long-term follow-up to assess the therapeutic effects has made the generation of valid data difficult. The publication in 2016 of the MGTX trial in the New England Journal of Medicine delivered the first randomized controlled data in which patients aged 18-65 years with generalized myasthenia gravis and positive for acetylcholine receptor antibodies showed a significant benefit after surgical resection of the thymus via median sternotomy. Despite a lack of validation of the advantages of thymectomy by minimally invasive surgery from randomized controlled studies, this technique seems to positively influence the outcome of certain patient groups in a similar way. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) using subxyphoidal and transcervical access routes showed not only esthetic advantages but also showed no relevant inferiority in the influence on clinical outcomes of myasthenia gravis compared to median sternotomy; however, not only the benefits and the esthetic results show differences but also the advantages in the various subtypes of myasthenia gravis show divergent prospects of success with respect to remission. The clinical spectrum of myasthenia is heterogeneous with respect to the occurrence of antibodies, the body region affected and the age of the patient at first diagnosis. Ultimately, thymectomy is an effective causal treatment of myasthenia gravis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hruy Menghesha
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Herzchirurgie, herzchirurgische Intensivmedizin und Thoraxchirurgie, Universitätsklinik Köln, Universität zu Köln, Kerpener Straße 62, 50931, Köln, Deutschland.
| | - Michael Schroeter
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurologie, Universitätsklinik Köln, Universität zu Köln, Köln, Deutschland
| | - Fabian Doerr
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Herzchirurgie, herzchirurgische Intensivmedizin und Thoraxchirurgie, Universitätsklinik Köln, Universität zu Köln, Kerpener Straße 62, 50931, Köln, Deutschland
| | - Georg Schlachtenberger
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Herzchirurgie, herzchirurgische Intensivmedizin und Thoraxchirurgie, Universitätsklinik Köln, Universität zu Köln, Kerpener Straße 62, 50931, Köln, Deutschland
| | - Matthias B Heldwein
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Herzchirurgie, herzchirurgische Intensivmedizin und Thoraxchirurgie, Universitätsklinik Köln, Universität zu Köln, Kerpener Straße 62, 50931, Köln, Deutschland
| | - Costanza Chiapponi
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Allgemein‑, Viszeral‑, Tumor-, und Transplantationschirurgie, Universitätsklinik Köln, Universität zu Köln, Köln, Deutschland
| | - Thorsten Wahlers
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Herzchirurgie, herzchirurgische Intensivmedizin und Thoraxchirurgie, Universitätsklinik Köln, Universität zu Köln, Kerpener Straße 62, 50931, Köln, Deutschland
| | - Christiane Bruns
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Allgemein‑, Viszeral‑, Tumor-, und Transplantationschirurgie, Universitätsklinik Köln, Universität zu Köln, Köln, Deutschland
| | - Khosro Hekmat
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Herzchirurgie, herzchirurgische Intensivmedizin und Thoraxchirurgie, Universitätsklinik Köln, Universität zu Köln, Kerpener Straße 62, 50931, Köln, Deutschland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Evoli A, Iorio R. Controversies in Ocular Myasthenia Gravis. Front Neurol 2020; 11:605902. [PMID: 33329368 PMCID: PMC7734350 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.605902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Myasthenia gravis (MG) with symptoms limited to eye muscles [ocular MG (OMG)] is a rare disease. OMG incidence varies according to ethnicity and age of onset. In recent years, both an increase in incidence rate, particularly in the elderly, and a lower risk for secondary generalization may have contributed to the growing disease prevalence in Western countries. OMG should be considered in patients with painless ptosis and extrinsic ophthalmoparesis. Though asymmetric muscle involvement and symptom fluctuations are typical, in some cases, OMG can mimic isolated cranial nerve paresis, internuclear ophthalmoplegia, and conjugate gaze palsy. Diagnostic confirmation can be challenging in patients negative for anti-acetylcholine receptor and anti-muscle-specific tyrosine kinase antibodies on standard radioimmunoassay. Early treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms and at preventing disease progression to generalized MG. Despite the absence of high-level evidence, there is general agreement on the efficacy of steroids at low to moderate dosage; immunosuppressants are considered when steroid high maintenance doses are required. The role of thymectomy in non-thymoma patients is controversial. Prolonged exposure to immunosuppressive therapy has a negative impact on the health-related quality of life in a proportion of these patients. OMG is currently excluded from most of the treatments recently developed in generalized MG.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amelia Evoli
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Raffaele Iorio
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|