RESPIRATORY DYSFUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH MYASTHENIA GRAVIS

A.M, Abdul-Kareem; I.K. Al-Hussaini, Sajid

	RESPIRATORY DYSFUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH MYASTHENIA GRAVIS
IRAQI JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
Article 1, Volume 4, Issue 1, 2005, Pages 93-98
Authors
Abdul-Kareem A.M; Sajid I.K. Al-Hussaini
Abstract
Background: Myasthenia Gravis, a neuromuscular disorder causing skeletal muscle weakness involving respiratory muscles which some times sever enough to need assisted respiration. Approximately 30% of patients with MG develop some degree of respiratory weakness, mysthenic crisis most often precipitated by systemic infection (40%), thymoma (30%) and aspiration pneumonitis (10%). Objectives: To evaluate respiratory function status with MG and to determine the triggering factors for respiratory dysfunction and effect of thymectomy. Method: 50 consecutive cases of MG, 33 females and 17 males with an age range between 16–60 years old, 29 of them underwent thymectomy. The study was done throughout the period October 1999 to June 2001 in Al-Kadhiymia Teaching Hospital. Results: 46% of patients show respiratory muscles involvement. 47.82% of cases show respiratory involvement in the first 4 years. 68.9% of thymectomized patients show no respiratory muscles involvement while 66.7% of non-thymectomized show respiratory muscles involvement. Infection is the highest triggering factor (39%). Conclusion: Respiratory dysfunction seems to develop in the first 4 years of the disease course. The incidence of respiratory dysfunction is less frequent in thymectomized patients. Infection is the main triggering factor. Keywords: Myasthenia Gravis, Neuromuscular, Thymectomy, Respiratory failure
Keywords
Myasthenia Gravis; Neuromuscular; Thymectomy; Respiratory failure

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