International consensus guidance for management of myasthenia gravis: Executive summary.

Journal article

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.

Authors: Sanders, D; Wolfe, G; Benatar, M; Evoli, A; Gilhus, N

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: American Academy of Neurology
• Journal: Neurology More from this journal
• Issue: 4
• Publication date: 2016-07-26
• DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000002790
• EISSN: 1526-632X
• ISSN: 0028-3878
• Language: English
• Keywords: Journal Article; Review