Ventilatory failure in myasthenia gravis.

Abstract

This retrospective study over the decade 1969-1978 examines the precipitating factors and outcome in 31 patients with myasthenia gravis who developed ventilatory failure. An unusual example of chronic alveolar hypoventilation is discussed in detail. The most favorable outcome occurred in younger patients with a hyperplastic thymus, in contrast to a poorer outlook for older patients with an atrophic gland. Eleven patients died during the period of followup: 3 deaths were unrelated to myasthenia, but the remaining 8 were attributed directly or indirectly to it. The 365 mortality represents a marked improvement on a 70% mortality in a similar group of patients reported from this hospital for 1960-1968.