Long-term administration of corticosteroids in myasthenia gravis.

Favorable results were obtained in 30 patients with myasthenia gravis treated initially with high daily doses of prednisone and subsequently maintained on lower doses for a protracted period. In 45 incidents of treatment, complete remission occurred in 69 percent, marked improvement in 20 percent, and moderate improvement in 17 percent. Nineteen patients proceeded to thymectomy, with negligible morbidity and sustained improvement. In four patients, it was possible to discontinue prednisone 1 year or more after thymectomy.