Intravenous methylprednisolone therapy for ocular myasthenia gravis: A retrospective study

BackgroundAlthough intravenous methylprednisolone pulse (IVMP) therapy has been recommended for ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG), the evidence is limited.AimWe aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of IVMP for OMG.MethodsThe patients with OMG were chosen retrospectively from May 2010 to December 2022. The therapeutic effects between IVMP-treated and non-IVMP-treated groups were determined by increment ocular quantitative MG (QMG) score and the increment ocular MG activities of daily living profile (MG-ADL) score, which is the disparities of the scores between before and after 1 month of drug administration; and Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America post-intervention status at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months.ResultsThere were 26 patients with OMG included, with the mean age of 67.2 +/- 13.1 years. 13 of the 26 people with OMG received IVMP and subsequent low-dose immunotherapies. The increment ocular QMG and increment ocular MG-ADL scores were significantly higher in the IVMP group of 3 (1.5, 4) and 3 (2, 4.5) than in the non-IVMP group of 1.5 (0, 3) and 1 (0, 2), p = 0.038 and p = 0.0027, respectively. The rates of minimal manifestation or better status in post-intervention status at 1 and 12 months were also considerably higher in the IVMP group of 77% and 92% compared with the non-IVMP group of 0% and 23%, p = 0.0001 and 0.001. There were no serious side effects discovered.ConclusionIVMP induction therapy can quickly and safely improve symptoms of OMG, and subsequent low-dose immunotherapy can keep symptoms at bay for 12 months.