[Analysis of long-term results of thymectomy in control of myasthenia gravis].

Objective And Methods: We studied 77 patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) in whom thymectomy had been done between 1968 and 1992. The mean follow-up period was 7.3 years. Our aim was to analyze their clinical courses with regard to various parameters: demographic, clinical and the anatomo-pathology of the thymus. We classified the patients according to three possible situations: in remission without treatment, in remission with some type of treatment and not in remission.

Results: We did not find any data which significantly affected the subsequent course of MG. However, there was a statistically significant improvement (p = 0.008) when the pre-thymectomy and post-thymectomy conditions of the patients were compared.

Conclusions: Overall, our series of cases is comparable to the majority of those presented. It should be remembered that although thymectomy has a place in the treatment of MG, and the technique is of low morbidity, precise indication for it has not yet been established. There are a considerable number of patients in whom no improvement is seen after this operation, although in 30% improvement may be expected.