[Clinical features of myasthenia gravis with thyroid disease with 106 patients].

OBJECTIVE

To report the presentation, clinical course and prognosis of myasthenia gravis (MG) with thyroid disease.

METHODS

Retrospective data analysis was conducted.Between 2004 and 2013, we reviewed a total of 106 patients with MG. We analyzed the clinical features, the relationship between the thyroid function, antibodies and the clinical course, prognosis.

RESULTS

(1) In our study, 20/106 (18.87%) patients were thyroid function-abnormal, 37/106 (34.91) were thyroglobulin antibodies (TGAb) and/or thyroid microsomal antibody (TMAb)-positive, and abnormality was observed in 46 (43.40%) of the thyroid gland. Thyroid antibody positive rate was higher than abnormal thyroid function rate, and the difference was significant (P=0.036). (2) The thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level ((2.9±4.0) mIU/L) of ocular MG was higher than the level ((1.5±1.1) mIU/L) of generalized MG (P=0.01). (3) The transformation time of 52 ocular type to generalized type was longer in higher antibody group than in normal group (P=0.04). And there were no significant differences between the elevated TSH type and the normal TSH type, the abnormal thyroid function type and normal thyroid function type, the abnormal thyroid type and the normal thyroid type. (4) Comparing the TSH level, total antibody level, TGAb, and TMAb level between the ease group and the unease group in the course of 1 year, 2 years, 5 years, there were no significant differences (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

MG is often companied with thyroid abnormalities. MG patients are more susceptible to hashimoto thyroiditis and other autoimmune thyroid diseases. Ocular type patients are more likely to suffer from thyroid function decrease than the generalized type. MG patients with hashimoto thyroiditis and other autoimmune thyroid diseases are more sensitive to respond to therapy means like glucocorticoid therapy, and the short-term prognosis is relatively good. There are no significant correlations between the MG remission rate and TSH level, total antibody level, TGAb and TMAb level.