Tóm tắt
Background: Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease of the neuromuscular junction characterized by fluctuating weakness and fatigability of skeletal muscles of varying severity.
Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics and selected ancillary findings of patients with myasthenia gravis treated at the Neurology Institute, Bach Mai Hospital, in 2025-2026.
Subjects and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 60 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of myasthenia gravis.
Results: The mean age was 47.75 ± 16.99 years, and females accounted for 65.0% of the patients. Ocular symptoms were the most common initial manifestations (66.7%). At the time of evaluation, ptosis was present in 86.7% of patients; 60.0% of patients had disease onset before the age of 50 years. Bulbar symptoms included dysarthria (60.0%), dysphagia and weak cough (56.7% each), and choking when drinking (55.0%). Neck weakness, limb weakness, and dyspnea were observed in 48.3%, 45.0%, and 40.0% of patients, respectively. Generalized myasthenia gravis accounted for 68.3% of cases, and 11.7% of patients were experiencing a myasthenic crisis at the time of the study. According to the MGFA classification, MGFA classes I-III accounted for 88.3% of patients, whereas classes IV-V accounted for 11.7%. The mean MG-ADL score was 9.02 ± 5.72, and the MGFA IV-V group had a significantly higher score than the MGFA I-III group (19.29 ± 5.74 vs. 7.66 ± 4.15; p<0.001). AChR-Ab was positive in 88.3% of patients, and unoperated thymoma was present in 30.0%.
Conclusion: Myasthenia gravis most commonly presented with ocular symptoms, particularly ptosis. At the time of the study, most patients had generalized myasthenia gravis. Limitations in activities of daily living were greater in patients with more severe disease. Most patients were positive for AChR-Ab, and thymoma was relatively common.
