International consensus guidance for management of myasthenia gravis: Executive summary


Authors:

Sanders DB, Wolfe GI, Benatar M, Evoli A, Gilhus NE, Illa I, Kuntz N, Massey JM, Melms A, Murai H, Nicolle M, Palace J, Richman DP, Verschuuren J, Narayanaswami P


Objective:
To develop formal consensus-based guidance for the management of myasthenia gravis (MG).

Methods:
In October 2013, the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America appointed a Task Force to develop treatment guidance for MG, and a panel of 15 international experts was convened. The RAND/UCLA appropriateness methodology was used to develop consensus guidance statements. Definitions were developed for goals of treatment, minimal manifestations, remission, ocular MG, impending crisis, crisis, and refractory MG. An in-person panel meeting then determined 7 treatment topics to be addressed. Initial guidance statements were developed from literature summaries. Three rounds of anonymous e-mail votes were used to attain consensus on guidance statements modified on the basis of panel input.

Results:
Guidance statements were developed for symptomatic and immunosuppressive treatments, IV immunoglobulin and plasma exchange, management of impending and manifest myasthenic crisis, thymectomy, juvenile MG, MG associated with antibodies to muscle-specific tyrosine kinase, and MG in pregnancy.

Conclusion:
This is an international formal consensus of MG experts intended to be a guide for clinicians caring for patients with MG worldwide.


Published: 26 July 2016
Journal: Neurology, volume 87, issue 4, pages 419-25

Link: doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000002790

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