Immunotherapy of Ocular Myasthenia Gravis Reduces Conversion to Generalized Myasthenia Gravis

Abstract

Background: Several retrospective studies have suggested that immunotherapy, including prednisolone, azathioprine and thymectomy, reduces progression of ocular myasthenia gravis to generalized myasthenia gravis. This study examines the effect of immunotherapy on generalization rates in ocular myasthenia patients who are acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody-positive. Methods: Retrospective record review of 34 patients from three university-based hospitals with neurology and neuroophthalmology services in Australia. In all patients, positive AChR antibodies were recorded, the initial symptoms were purely ocular, and all had at least 2 years of follow-up. The patients who developed generalize..