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Open Access 01-12-2024 | Myasthenia Gravis | Research

Thymoma negatively affects the neurological outcome of myasthenia gravis after thymectomy: a propensity score matching study

Authors: Wenxin Tian, Hanbo Yu, Yaoguang Sun, Jing He, Qingjun Wu, Chao Ma, Peng Jiao, Chuan Huang, Donghang Li, Hongfeng Tong

Published in: Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery | Issue 1/2024

Abstract

Background

Thymoma and myasthenia gravis (MG) interact with each other. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of thymoma on neurological outcome of MG patients after thymectomy using the propensity score matching (PSM) method.

Methods

Consecutive patients with MG who underwent thymectomy at Beijing Hospital between January 2012 and August 2021 were retrospectively enrolled. Clinical and follow-up data were collected. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 23.0 software. PSM was performed to eliminate selection bias.

Results

A total of 456 patients were included in this study. Thymoma was present in 138 (30.3%) patients. The median follow-up time was 72 (range, 12–135) months. At the last follow-up, a lower proportion of thymomatous MG patients achieved complete stable remission (CSR) compared with non-thymomatous MG patients (P = 0.011), and the effective rate [CSR + pharmatologic remission (PR) + minimal manifestations (MM)] of thymomatous MG patients was also lower (P = 0.037). Considering time to CSR, Kaplan–Meier analysis showed thymomatous MG patients had lower cumulative CSR rate than non-thymomatous MG patients (log-rank, P = 0.019). After PSM, 105 pairs of patients were matched successfully. For the matched patients, thymomatous MG patients had a lower CSR rate and a lower effective rate (P = 0.002, 0.039, respectively), and K–M analysis still showed thymomatous MG patients had lower cumulative CSR rate (log-rank, P = 0.048). Multivariate Cox analysis demonstrated that thymoma (HR: 0.592, 95% CI 0.389–0.900, P = 0.014), older age at the time of surgery (HR: 0.971, 95% CI 0.953–0.990, P = 0.003), and preoperative course of MG > 12 months (HR: 0.474, 95% CI 0.317–0.708, P = 0.000) were negative predictive factors for CSR.

Conclusions

Thymoma had a negative effect on the neurological outcome of MG after thymectomy. MG patients with old age and a preoperative course of longer than one year had a lower probability of achieving CSR.

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Title: Thymoma negatively affects the neurological outcome of myasthenia gravis after thymectomy: a propensity score matching study
Authors: Wenxin Tian
Hanbo Yu
Yaoguang Sun
Jing He
Qingjun Wu
Chao Ma
Peng Jiao
Chuan Huang
Donghang Li
Hongfeng Tong
Publication date: 01-12-2024
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Myasthenia Gravis
Thymoma
Thymoma
Thymectomy
Thymectomy
Published in: Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1749-8090
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13019-024-02511-6

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Springer Medicine

Thymoma negatively affects the neurological outcome of myasthenia gravis after thymectomy: a propensity score matching study

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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