Epidemiology of seropositive myasthenia gravis in Greece
K Poulasa, E Tsibrib, A Koklaa, D Papanastasioua, T Tsouloufisa, M Marinoua, P Tsantilia, T Papapetropoulosb, S J Tzartosa
a Department of
Biochemistry, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 127 Vas Sofias Avenue, Athens
11521, Greece, b University Department of Neurology,
Medical School of Patras University, Regional University Hospital of
Patras, PO Box 1045, 26500 Rion, Greece
Correspondence to: Dr S J Tzartos tzartos{at}mail.pasteur.gr
Received 28 September
2000 and in revised form 22 January 2001;
Accepted 26
April 2001
OBJECTIVES
To study
the epidemiological characteristics of myasthenia gravis in Greece.
METHODSA population
based study was carried out of seropositive myasthenia gravis in Greece
for the period from 1 January 1983 to 30 June 1997; 843 patients were studied.
RESULTSThe average
annual incidence for the period 1992-7, for which the database is
complete, was 7.40/million population/year (women 7.14; men 7.66). On 1 July 1997, there were 740 prevalent cases. The point prevalence rate
was 70.63/million (women 81.58; men 59.39). The average overall annual
mortality rate in the patients was 0.67/million population (women 0.53;
men 0.82), and the mortality rate attributed to myasthenia gravis was
0.43/million population (women 0.41; men 0.45). The average age at
onset was 46.50 years (women 40.16; men 54.46), and the mean age of the
prevalent patients was 52.58 (women 47.65; men 59.48). The women:men
incidence ratio was 1:1.04, and the prevalence ratio was 1.41:1. It is
predicted that the prevalence and women: men prevalence ratio would
increase if the patient list included all patients with a date of onset before 1983.
CONCLUSIONSThe
largest epidemiological study ever performed on myasthenia gravis is
presented. The most important epidemiological indexes are provided.
Keywords: myasthenia gravis; neuromuscular disease; epidemiology
© 2001 by Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
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