Observation of Curative Effect on 200 Cases of Myasthenia Gravis Treated with Traditional Chinese Medicine

Abstract

Aim: To observe the curative effect of applying a patented traditional Chinese medicine, namely “a traditional Chinese medicine for treating myasthenia gravis” (assigned Chinese Patent of Invention in 2007), to myasthenia gravis. Methods: 200 cases of myasthenia gravis were collected during 1988–2010. One single course of treatment takes 3 months when using the above-mentioned patented medicine. Such changes of clinical symptoms are noticed before and after treatment: eyelid ptosis, diplopia, weakness, dysarthria, dysphagia, choke cough. We compile scorings according to the quantitative myasthenia gravis (QMG) score system of Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America. Curative effect: (1) Short-term: the shortest treatment course of this group of cases was 1 month and the longest was 30 months with an normal distribution of 7.21 ± 6.23 months. Among the 200 cases, 104 cases were fully recovered (52 %), 58 cases had obvious effect (29 %), 31 cases (15.5 %) were effective and 7 cases were ineffective (3.5 %), hence the total effective rate was 96.5 % (Table 66.1 in the text). There is a huge difference (P < 0.001, Table 66.2 in the text) between QMG scores of various symptoms before and after treatment (paired-t test). (2) Long-term curative effect: through following up part of the recovered patients (24 cases) for at least half a year and at most 19 years with an average period of 5.72 years, the patients can still participate in normal work or housework without recurrence. Conclusion: The curative effect of 200 cases of myasthenia gravis treated by this patent traditional Chinese medicine was satisfied during 1988–2010. Table 66.1 Curative effect of all classes (case, %) Classification N Cured Markedly effective Effective Ineffective Class I 78(39) 47(23.5) 17(8.5) 12(6) 2(1) ClassII ClassIIa 19(9.5) 10(5) 7(3.5) 2(1) 0(0) ClassIIb 23(11.5) 11(5.5) 9(4.5) 3(1.5) 0(0) ClassIII ClassIIIa 14(7) 6(3) 6(3) 2(1) 0(0) ClassIIIb 48(24) 26(13) 14(7) 6(3) 2(1) ClassIV ClassIVa 5(2.5) 1(0.5) 1(0.5) 3(1.5) 0(0) ClassIVb 13(6.5) 3(1.5) 4(2) 3(1.5) 3(1.5) Total 200(100) 104(52) 58(29) 31(15.5) 7(3.5) Table 66.2 Comparison of scores of all symptoms before and after treatment (Paired t-test) Symptom Case Average Standard deviation t value P value Left ptosis Before therapy 174 2.94 0.33 41.37 <0.001 After therapy 174 0.42 0.75 Right ptosis Before therapy 165 2.95 0.29 40.55 <0.001 After therapy 165 0.42 0.77 Diplopia Before therapy 90 1.00 0.00 43.74 <0.001 After therapy 90 0.04 0.21 Dysarthria Before therapy 66 1.00 0.00 20.29 <0.001 After therapy 66 0.14 0.35 Dysmasesis Before therapy 70 1.00 0.00 39.26 <0.001 After therapy 70 0.04 0.20 Dysphagia Before therapy 63 1.00 0.00 24.27 <0.001 After therapy 63 0.10 0.30 Suffocated by water Before therapy 47 1.00 0.00 46.00 <0.001 After therapy 47 0.02 0.15 Difficulty in raising one’s head Before therapy 19 1.00 0.00 18.00 <0.001 After therapy 19 0.05 0.23 Dyspnea Before therapy 16 1.00 0.00 15.00 <0.001 After therapy 16 0.06 0.25 Lassitude Before therapy 69 1.00 0.00 47.73 <0.001 After therapy 69 0.03 0.17