ABSTRACT
Objective:
To evaluate the
cognitive function characteristics in
patients with
myasthenia gravis(MG).
Methods:
The
cognitive function of 83 MG
patients and 39 healthy controls (HC) were evaluated by MMSE,
California verbal learning test( CVLT), brief visuospatial
memory test revised(BVMT-R),
symbol digit modalities test(SDMT), benton
judgment of line
orientation test(BJLOT),
paced auditory serial addition Test(PASAT) and verbal fluency test(VFT). The
depression state was assessed by beck
depression inventory (BDI). The results were compared between MG and HC groups.The effect of clinical characteristics such as
disease type, comorbidities,
course of
disease,
disease severity, and
drug treatment on
cognitive impairment in MG group was further analysed.
Results:
The scale scores of MMSE(28(26, 29), 29(28, 30)), CVLT, BVMT-R, SDMT((37.06±12.18), (47.54±14.91)) and PASAT((32.86±10.23), (37.00±8.82)) in MG were significantly lower than those in
control group ( P<0.05). There were no statistical difference regarding the scores of BJLOT, VFT and BDI in the two groups( P>0.05). Spearman correlation
analysis showed that QMG scores were negatively correlated with SDMT scores( r=-0.234, P<0.05). MG-
ADL scores were inversely correlated with total BVMT-R scores of three trials( r=-0.283, P<0.05).
Conclusion:
Patients with MG suffered from
cognitive impairment, mainly in
memory,
attention,
processing speed and visual
memory, which supported the hypothesis of CNS involvement in MG.Dysfunction in some cognitive domains may be related to the
disease severity.Clinicians need take morce
attention to early assessment, developing long-term follow-ups and appropriate intervention.