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Lu M, Reisch J, Iannaccone S, Batley K. Juvenile Myasthenia Gravis in North Texas: Clinical Features, Treatment Response, and Outcomes. Pediatr Neurol 2024; 156:10-14. [PMID: 38688232 DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2024.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Juvenile myasthenia gravis (JMG) is a rare autoimmune disease that causes fatigable muscle weakness in children aged <18 years. There is currently no curative treatment or internationally accepted standard of care for JMG. The objective is to investigate relationships between clinical presentation, antibody status, severity of disease onset, electrodiagnostic evaluation, and response to therapy in JMG. METHODS This study was a retrospective chart review. Congenital myasthenic syndromes were excluded. Data on demographics, treatments, and outcomes were collected. Disease severity was evaluated using Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) clinical classifications. RESULTS We identified 84 patients with JMG at Children's Medical Center Dallas between January 2014 and February 2022. It was found that 52% of patients presented with ocular JMG (median onset age 4.5 years) and 48% with generalized JMG (median onset age 11.5 years); 81% tested positive for acetylcholine receptor antibodies. Patients were 17% non-Hispanic white, 29% Hispanic, 39% black, and 12% Asian. There was a significant difference in average MGFA scores between ethnicities (P = 0.047) and age groups (P = 0.004), with postpubertal patients having higher average MGFA scores than prepubertal patients. Seventy-one percent of patients who underwent thymectomy experienced a decrease in MGFA scores postprocedure. CONCLUSIONS Our study showed that there were significant differences in disease severity between ethnicities and age groups and that most patients who underwent thymectomy showed clinical improvement. These outcomes highlight the need for additional therapies in the treatment of JMG and the importance of extending clinical trials to the pediatric population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilyn Lu
- Pediatric Neuromuscular Division, Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
| | - Joan Reisch
- Department of Population and Data Sciences, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Susan Iannaccone
- Pediatric Neuromuscular Division, Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Kaitlin Batley
- Pediatric Neuromuscular Division, Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
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Di Stefano V, Iacono S, Militello M, Leone O, Rispoli MG, Ferri L, Ajdinaj P, Lanza P, Lupica A, Crescimanno G, Monastero R, Di Muzio A, Brighina F. Comorbidity in myasthenia gravis: multicentric, hospital-based, and controlled study of 178 Italian patients. Neurol Sci 2024; 45:3481-3494. [PMID: 38383750 PMCID: PMC11176220 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-024-07368-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disorder with fluctuating weakness that causes significant disability and morbidity. Comorbidities may influence the course of MG, particularly in specific subgroups. The aim of this study is to investigate the frequency of comorbidities in MG patients compared to healthy controls (HC) and to evaluate their distribution according to age at disease onset, sex, and disease severity. METHODS MG patients attending the University Hospital "Paolo Giaccone" in Palermo and "SS Annunziata" Hospital in Chieti were enrolled; HC were enrolled from the general population. Non-parametric statistics and logistic regression were used to assess the association of specific comorbidities according to age at disease onset, sex, disease subtypes, and severity of the disease. RESULTS A total of 356 subjects were included in the study: 178 MG patients (46% F; median age 60 years [51-71]) and 178 sex- and age-matched HC (46% F, median age 59 years [50-66]). Overall, 86% of MG patients and 76% of HC suffered from comorbidities, and MG patients had a higher number of comorbidities compared to HC. Patients with late-onset suffered from more comorbidities than those with early-onset MG. Hypertension was more common in male patients with MG, while thymic hyperplasia, osteoporosis, and autoimmune diseases were more common in females. Respiratory disorders and thymoma were more common in patients with more severe disease (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). CONCLUSION MG patients, particularly those with late onset, showed a higher prevalence of comorbidities than HC. Assessment of comorbidities in MG is an essential issue to identify the appropriate treatment and achieve the best management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Di Stefano
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience, and Advanced Diagnostic (BIND), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Salvatore Iacono
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience, and Advanced Diagnostic (BIND), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Militello
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience, and Advanced Diagnostic (BIND), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Olga Leone
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience, and Advanced Diagnostic (BIND), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Laura Ferri
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, "G. D'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy
| | - Paola Ajdinaj
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, "G. D'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy
| | - Placido Lanza
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience, and Advanced Diagnostic (BIND), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonino Lupica
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience, and Advanced Diagnostic (BIND), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Grazia Crescimanno
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council of Italy, Palermo, Italy
| | - Roberto Monastero
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience, and Advanced Diagnostic (BIND), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Antonio Di Muzio
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, "G. D'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy
| | - Filippo Brighina
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience, and Advanced Diagnostic (BIND), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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Carter M, Ungerleider S, Goldstein SD. Thymectomy for juvenile myasthenia gravis: a narrative review. MEDIASTINUM (HONG KONG, CHINA) 2024; 8:35. [PMID: 38881806 PMCID: PMC11176985 DOI: 10.21037/med-23-41] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Background and Objective Thymectomy as a management strategy for juvenile myasthenia gravis (JMG) has been increasingly adopted with the advent of minimally invasive surgical techniques. This review evaluates existing evidence regarding the surgical management of JMG, including the benefits of surgical compared to medical therapy, important considerations when evaluating surgical candidacy and determining optimal timing of intervention. In addition, we provide an overview of the open, thoracoscopic and robotic surgical approaches available for thymectomy and compare the existing data to characterize optimal surgical management. Methods A thorough literature review was conducted for full length research articles, including systematic reviews, retrospective cohort studies and case series, published between January 2000 and July 2023 regarding open, thoracoscopic or robotic thymectomy for management of JMG. Reference lists of the identified articles were manually searched for additional studies. Evidence was summarized in a narrative fashion with the incorporation of the authors' knowledge gained through clinical experience. Key Content and Findings Although data specific to JMG are limited to small retrospective cohort studies, available evidence supports equal to greater disease control following thymectomy versus pharmacologic management. Furthermore, outcomes may be optimized when surgery is performed earlier in the disease course, particularly for patients who are post-pubertal with generalized or severe disease and those necessitating high-dose steroid administration thereby limiting its metabolic and growth inhibitory effects. Open transsternal resection is the historic gold-standard; however, as surgeons become more comfortable with thoracoscopic and robotic-assisted thymectomy, an increasing proportion of patients are expected to undergo thymectomy. At present, the data available is unable to support conclusions regarding which surgical approach is superior; however, minimally invasive approaches may be non-inferior while offering superior cosmesis and decreased morbidity. Conclusions Higher-level investigation through the use of multi-institutional databases and randomized prospective trials is warranted in order to understand which child warrants thymectomy, at what point in their disease course and their development, and which surgical approach will optimize postoperative outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Carter
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sara Ungerleider
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Seth D Goldstein
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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Shibuya M, Shichiji M, Ikeda M, Kodama K, Miyabayashi T, Sato R, Okubo Y, Endo W, Inui T, Togashi N, Nagao M, Sato K, Sato T, Kanzaki M, Segawa O, Masui K, Ishigaki K, Haginoya K. The Clinical Course and Treatment of a Case of Refractory Systemic Juvenile Myasthenia Gravis Successfully Treated with Thymectomy. TOHOKU J EXP MED 2024; 262:29-31. [PMID: 37967941 DOI: 10.1620/tjem.2023.j094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Juvenile myasthenia gravis (JMG) exhibits a more favorable response to glucocorticoids and has a better prognosis than adult myasthenia gravis. However, no established treatment exists for refractory JMG. Although thymectomy has been performed in several patients with refractory systemic JMG, there are few detailed clinical descriptions of patients who underwent thymectomy. Here, we present the case of a 10-year-old boy with refractory systemic JMG who was successfully treated with thymectomy. The patient developed symptoms, including dysphagia, malaise, diurnal ptosis, and weakness in the trunk muscles, and he was diagnosed with generalized JMG. Despite undergoing various treatments, including steroids, tacrolimus, steroid pulse therapy, intravenous immunoglobulin, azathioprine (AZT), and rituximab, his symptoms did not improve. Therefore, he underwent a thoracoscopic thymectomy 24 months after disease onset. Thymectomy led to remission, as demonstrated by a significant reduction in the quantitative myasthenia gravis score and anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody levels, which persisted for 43 months after surgery. Our case demonstrates the effectiveness of thymectomy in systemic JMG patients with positive anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies, despite therapeutic failure with AZT and rituximab, within 2 years of disease onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moriei Shibuya
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Miyagi Children's Hospital
| | - Minobu Shichiji
- Department of Pediatrics, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine
| | - Miki Ikeda
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Miyagi Children's Hospital
| | - Kaori Kodama
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Miyagi Children's Hospital
| | | | - Ryo Sato
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Miyagi Children's Hospital
| | - Yukimune Okubo
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Miyagi Children's Hospital
| | - Wakaba Endo
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Miyagi Children's Hospital
| | - Takehiko Inui
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Miyagi Children's Hospital
| | - Noriko Togashi
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Miyagi Children's Hospital
| | - Mika Nagao
- Department of Pediatrics, Ohta Nishinouchi Hospital
| | - Kaname Sato
- Department of Pediatrics, Ohta Nishinouchi Hospital
| | - Takatoshi Sato
- Department of Pediatrics, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine
| | - Masato Kanzaki
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tokyo Women's Medical University
| | - Osamu Segawa
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tokyo Women's Medical University
| | - Kenta Masui
- Department of Surgical Pathology, Tokyo Women's Medical University
| | - Keiko Ishigaki
- Department of Pediatrics, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine
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