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Terbutaline in myasthenia gravis: A pilot study.

Author(s): Soliven B, Rezania K, Gundogdu B, Harding-Clay B, Oger J, Arnason BG

Affiliation(s): Department of Neurology, and the Brain Research Institute, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.

Publication date & source: 2009-02-15, J Neurol Sci., 277(1-2):150-4. Epub 2008 Oct 26.

The objective of this study was to assess the short-term efficacy and safety of terbutaline, a beta2-adrenergic agonist, in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. The primary endpoint for efficacy was a reduction of at least 3 points in the quantitative MG score (QMGS). Secondary endpoints included changes in the functional disability scale (FDS), forced vital capacity (FVC), grip strength, anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody levels and decremental response. During the terbutaline phase, five of eight (63%) patients had an improvement in the QMGS of 3.0 or greater, while 3/8 (38%) patients had improvement in the FDS of one grade. No improvement was seen during the placebo period. Statistical analysis using Wilcoxon signed-rank test confirmed that terbutaline treatment resulted in a significant improvement in QMGS. There was no change in FVC, grip strength or anti-AChR antibody levels, but there was an improvement in the decremental response during terbutaline phase. Terbutaline was well-tolerated in all study subjects. We conclude that terbutaline may be an effective adjunct therapy in a subset of patients with myasthenia, although confirmation with larger trials will be required.

Page last updated: 2009-02-08

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