Thymus is located in the anterior mediastinum of the thoracic cavity behind the sternum. It is an important lymphoid organ of the human body. Its function is closely related to immunity. During the late embryo and birth, the human thymus weighs about 10-15g. With the growth of age, the thymus continues to develop and reaches puberty about 30-40g. After that, the thymus gradually degenerates, lymphocytes decrease, adipose tissue increases, and only 15g is reached in the elderly.
According to incomplete clinical statistics, 90% of myasthenia gravis patients have thymus abnormalities, about 70% have thymus hyperplasia and 10-15% have thymoma. Some patients have obvious improvement of symptoms and obvious decrease of AChR antibody titer after thymectomy, which all indicate that thymus is related to myasthenia gravis.
However, it should be noted that not all patients need thymectomy for myasthenia gravis. We recommend that the applicable population is those with poor systemic therapeutic effect and thymoma for thymus hyperplasia over 18 years old. Thymectomy for childhood myasthenia gravis should be cautious.
Author: Huashan myopathy group
The article was reprinted by Clove Garden authorized by the author.