Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42520030›Full record

ArticlePloS one2026

Myasthenia gravis: Diagnostic journey and therapeutic outcomes in patients followed at a Brazilian public tertiary center - A retrospective cohort study.

Diego Silva Figueiredo, Alberto Rolim Muro Martinez, Anamarli Nucci, Marcondes Cavalcante França Junior

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Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Diego Silva FigueiredoDepartment of Neurology, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4735-2607
Alberto Rolim Muro MartinezDepartment of Neurology, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Anamarli NucciDepartment of Neurology, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Marcondes Cavalcante França JuniorDepartment of Neurology, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0898-2419

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMyasthenia gravis (MG) is a heterogeneous autoimmune disorder of the neuromuscular junction. Diagnosis and management remain challenging in real-world settings, particularly in public health systems. Data from resource-constrained countries are limited. This study aimed to characterize the epidemiological, clinical, and therapeutic profile of MG patients followed in a Brazilian public tertiary center, emphasizing diagnostic delay and treatment outcomes.

methodsWe conducted a retrospective single-center cohort study of 150 adult MG patients evaluated from 2024 to 2025. Clinical, immunological, therapeutic, and diagnostic-journey data were extracted from institutional electronic and paper medical records, and structured patient questionnaires, when available. Patients were classified as drug-responsive, corticosteroid-dependent, or drug-refractory using predefined operational criteria informed by international consensus guidance. Between-group comparisons used parametric or nonparametric tests, and categorical variables were analyzed with chi-square, Fisher's exact, or Monte Carlo permutation chi-square tests, as appropriate.

resultsThe cohort had female predominance (65.3%), with a median age at onset 35.5 years (IQR 25-48). Among those tested, most were AChR antibody-positive (67.6%) and presented generalized MG (93.3%). Median diagnostic delay was 11 months, and 47.3% had delays ≥1 year. Refractory MG occurred in 14% and corticosteroid dependence in 10.6%. Documented myasthenic crisis and impending crisis occurred in 25.2% (35/139) and 27.3% (38/139), respectively; documented myasthenic crisis was more frequent in refractory than in drug-responsive patients (45.0% vs 21.0%). Treatment-related adverse events were documented in 47.5% (67/141); among affected patients, the most common were hyperglycemia (37.3%), osteoporosis/osteopenia (17.9%), and weight gain (16.4%).

conclusionsMG patients followed at this Brazilian public tertiary center showed clinical profiles broadly comparable to those reported in international cohorts, but diagnostic delays were frequent. The frequencies of refractory disease and corticosteroid dependence highlight the need for earlier recognition, specialized management, optimized steroid-sparing strategies, and improved access to comprehensive MG care.

Indexed as

Myasthenia GravisAdrenal Cortex HormonesAdultBrazilFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesTertiary Care CentersTreatment DelayTreatment OutcomeAdrenal Cortex Hormones

Identifiers

PMID42520030
PMCPMC13411926

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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.