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Steroids Only When Compelled

Henry J. Kaminski, MD; Robert B. Daroff, MD
From the Department of Neurology, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Cleveland, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio.

Arch Neurol. 2000;57:752-753.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

MYASTHENIA gravis (MG) preferentially involves the ocular muscles.¹ Ocular myasthenia manifests as weakness of the levator palpebrae superioris leading to ptosis, or the extraocular muscles producing diplopia. The precise reasons for this predilection are poorly understood.^2-3 As with all therapies for MG, there are few well-controlled studies of treatments of ocular myasthenia.⁴ Immunosuppressive therapies, in particular the corticosteroid prednisone, are the mainstay of treatment for generalized MG that compromises an individual's daily activities. Prednisone is also commonly used for ocular myasthenia. However, 4 factors should be considered prior to the use of steroids for patients with MG isolated to the ocular muscles: (1) Could the patient's symptoms improve with safer forms of therapy? (2) Will steroid treatment lead to resolution of symptoms? (3) Does the severity of the symptoms warrant the risk of steroid adverse effects? (4) Do steroids reduce the chance . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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