A multicentre study conducted in Germany has provided a better understanding of the determinants of respiratory complications during acute attacks of myasthenia gravis:
- 12 centres took part in the study and pooled the clinical data of 197 patients,
- this corresponded to 217 acute episodes requiring mechanical ventilation in intensive care,
- 64% of patients had difficulty weaning themselves off the ventilator,
- these included failed extubation, reintubation, tracheostomy and even death,
- advanced age, the presence of co-morbidities and the development of secondary cardio-respiratory complications were the most frequently reported associated factors.
These results provide a better basis for targeting the populations of myasthenic patients most at risk.
