Azathioprine as a single drug or in combination with steroids in the treatment of myasthenia gravis

✍ Scribed by R. Mantegazza; C. Antozzi; D. Peluchetti; A. Sghirlanzoni; F. Cornelio

• Book ID: 104718330
• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1988
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 445 KB
• Volume: 235
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0340-5354
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00314245

✦ Synopsis

Azathioprine (Aza) has been used alone or in combination with steroids for two groups of myasthenic patients. Positive responses were noted in 75% of patients on Aza alone and in 70% receiving the combined regimen. The clinical course of the two groups differed in terms of respiratory crisis and need for plasma exchange. With an appropriate Aza administration schedule side-effects were not a limiting factor to its use. Aza treatment induced a reduction in anti-AchR-antibody level that was correlated with clinical improvement and greatly decreased the need for steroids.