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
- aDepartment of Biochemistry, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 127 Vas Sofias Avenue, Athens 11521, Greece, bUniversity Department of Neurology, Medical School of Patras University, Regional University Hospital of Patras, PO Box 1045, 26500 Rion, Greece
- Dr S J Tzartostzartos{at}mail.pasteur.gr
- Received 28 September 2000
- Revised 22 January 2001
- Accepted 26 April 2001
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To study the epidemiological characteristics of myasthenia gravis in Greece.
METHODS A 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.
RESULTS The 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.
CONCLUSIONS The largest epidemiological study ever performed on myasthenia gravis is presented. The most important epidemiological indexes are provided.
