RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 IV immunoglobulin in patients with myasthenia gravis
JF Neurology
JO Neurology
FD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
SP 837
OP 841
DO 10.1212/01.wnl.0000256698.69121.45
VO 68
IS 11
A1 Zinman, Lorne
A1 Ng, Eduardo
A1 Bril, Vera
YR 2007
UL http://n.neurology.org/content/68/11/837.abstract
AB Objective: We aimed to determine the effectiveness of IV immunoglobulin (IVIG) in the treatment of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and worsening weakness in a randomized, placebo-controlled, masked study. Methods: Fifty-one patients with worsening weakness due to MG were randomized to infusion with 2 g/kg of IVIG or an equivalent volume of IV dextrose 5% in water. The Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) Score for Disease Severity, a validated clinical composite scale, was calculated by a masked observer at baseline and days 14 and 28. Results: In IVIG-treated patients, a clinically meaningful improvement in QMG Score for Disease Severity was observed at day 14 and persisted at day 28. The greatest improvement occurred in patients with more severe disease as defined by a QMG Score for Disease Severity greater than 10.5. Conclusion: This study provides level 1 evidence for the effectiveness of IV immunoglobulin in patients with worsening weakness due to myasthenia gravis.