Evidence map›Paper›PMID 20565885›Full record

SynthesisBMC neurology2010

A systematic review of population based epidemiological studies in Myasthenia Gravis.

Aisling S Carr, Chris R Cardwell, Peter O McCarron, John McConville

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC neurology, 2010. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 295 papers, 14 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
295citing papers in PubMed, 14 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

295 citing papers in PubMed, 14 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  5. Rituximab for myasthenia gravis.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2025
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  15. Psychometric analysis of the Neuro-QoL Fatigue in generalized Myasthenia Gravis (gMG) using data from a phase 3 trial.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2025
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235 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Aisling S CarrDepartment of Neurology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK. aisling.carr@belfasttrust.hscni.net
Chris R Cardwell
Peter O McCarron
John McConville

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe aim was to collate all myasthenia gravis (MG) epidemiological studies including AChR MG and MuSK MG specific studies. To synthesize data on incidence rate (IR), prevalence rate (PR) and mortality rate (MR) of the condition and investigate the influence of environmental and technical factors on any trends or variation observed.

methodsStudies were identified using multiple sources and meta-analysis performed to calculate pooled estimates for IR, PR and MR.

results55 studies performed between 1950 and 2007 were included, representing 1.7 billion population-years. For All MG estimated pooled IR (eIR): 5.3 per million person-years (C.I.:4.4, 6.1), range: 1.7 to 21.3; estimated pooled PR: 77.7 per million persons (C.I.:64.0, 94.3), range 15 to 179; MR range 0.1 to 0.9 per millions person-years. AChR MG eIR: 7.3 (C.I.:5.5, 7.8), range: 4.3 to 18.0; MuSK MG IR range: 0.1 to 0.32. However marked variation persisted between populations studied with similar methodology and in similar areas.

conclusionsWe report marked variation in observed frequencies of MG. We show evidence of increasing frequency of MG with year of study and improved study quality. This probably reflects improved case ascertainment. But other factors must also influence disease onset resulting in the observed variation in IR across geographically and genetically similar populations.

Indexed as

HumansIncidenceMyasthenia GravisPrevalence

Identifiers

PMID20565885
PMCPMC2905354

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.