# Outcomes of myasthenia gravis patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit: Experience from a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia

## TL;DR

This study examines why and how often myasthenia gravis patients are admitted to the ICU in Saudi Arabia, finding that most admissions are due to myasthenic crises with low mortality.

## Contribution

The study provides insights into ICU admissions for myasthenia gravis in a Saudi tertiary care center, highlighting clinical patterns and outcomes.

## Key findings

- Myasthenic crisis was the most common reason for ICU admission (63.3%).
- 80.5% of patients with myasthenic crisis were treated with plasma exchange.
- 45% of patients required mechanical ventilation during ICU admission.

## Abstract

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder that affects the neuromuscular junction resulting in muscle weakness and fatigue. The aim of this study was to investigate the indications for and frequency of intensive care unit admissions in people with myasthenia gravis in addition to exploring the clinical presentations and outcomes during their admission.

This retrospective study included all adult patients diagnosed with myasthenia gravis who were admitted to the intensive care unit in a six year period. Twenty-four patients with a diagnosis of myasthenia gravis were included in this study, with a total of 60 admissions. The median age at their first admission was 45 years with female predominance. Majority of the patients (87.5%) were acetylcholine antibody positive and 66.7% of patients had thymectomy. Myasthenic crisis was the most common reason for intensive care unit admission (63.3%). 80.5% of patients admitted with myasthenic crisis were treated with plasma exchange. During their admission, 45% of patients required mechanical ventilation. Complications during hospitalization were reported in 18.3% of patients, with mortality rate of 5% of all admissions.

People with myasthenia gravis are commonly admitted to the intensive care unit due to myasthenic crises, however, there were minimal complications reported and a low mortality rate.