Predictors and Prognostic Factors of Myasthenia Gravis Outcome

July 30, 2024 updated by: Nourelhoda Ahmed Ahmed Haridy, Assiut University

This study aims to characterize the clinical features, frequency of different subgroups of MG, and identify predictors of treatment responsiveness among different subgroups of MG. The predictors are including primary outcome (percentage of changes in MG scales at baseline at time of enrollment and after 3 months) and secondary outcome (treatment-related adverse events). Also it aims to determine the frequency of patients with refractory MG.

This information will be used to understand the trends and mechanisms of disease relapse, and optimal management strategies.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a rare acquired autoimmune disease affecting the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), caused by autoantibodies that target the post-synaptic membrane. It's overall prevalence ranged from 150 to 250 cases per million. The most common autoantibodies are those directed to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR), but there is smaller proportion of cases, in whom, other antibodies can be present and they included antibodies directed to muscle specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) or to lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 (Lrp-4). The manifestation of MG is in form of fatigable skeletal muscle weakness, affecting ocular, bulbar and limb muscles. In general, the disease diagnosis is confirmed by presence of this characteristic muscle weakness with positive autoantibodies in the serum. The main current treatment of the disease is symptomatic and immunomodulating therapies which are efficient in managing the disease manifestation. The disease prognosis is mostly favorable and about 15%, is considered medically refractory to the conventional therapy. MG can be classified into different subgroups according to different factors which included the autoantibody status, age of onset, and degree of muscle affection. These subgroups are significantly influencing the therapeutic decisions. Moreover, this proposed classification could explain the distinct immunopathological, clinical, therapeutic, and prognostic differences among these subgroups.

Current standard immunotherapies have a broad-spectrum of immune suppression, and potential side effects associated with their use can significantly impact quality of life, especially as they are usually needed life-long. Significant heterogeneity in treatment responsiveness and outcomes exists among the various subgroups of MG based on epidemiology, clinical presentation, autoantibody status, and comorbidities. In MG clinical trials, the evaluation is mainly depending on the short-term clinical efficacy, but the long-term benefits and impact on patient's quality of life and other disease burdens, (i.e., treatment-related side effects, financial impact), were not measured. The outcomes of MG were assessed in many studies and they included the reduction in quality of life, the negative impact on social and physical health, that related to the disease itself and the immunomodulators used for its treatment. Based on these factors, the investigators aimed to conduct this study to find the disease characteristics in the participants, the patient-tailored targeted treatment strategies, treatment outcomes, disease progression and quality of life.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

30

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Egypt
      • Assiut, Egypt, 71515
        • Recruiting
        • Assiut University
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Asmaa MM Hasan, Lecturer

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

16 years and older (Child, Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients diagnosed with MG either ocular disease or generalized disease associated with thymoma or not or post-thymectomy, from the outpatient clinics and inpatient wards will be eligible to participate.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Age from 16 years and older.
  2. Gender: both sexes are included.

  3. Clinical Diagnosis of MG with supporting evidence as:

    1. unequivocal clinical response to pyridostigmine
    2. decrement >10% in repetitive nerve stimulations study (RNS).
  4. Willingness to sample collection, imaging study and other disease-related examinations and assessments.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Age younger than 16 years.
  2. History of chronic psychiatric or neurological disorder other than MG that can produce weakness or fatigue.
  3. Severe systemic illness affecting life-expectancy.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Cohort
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in MG-specific Activities of Daily Living scale (MG-ADL).
Time Frame: The changes in points from baseline assessment score to 3 months follow up assessment score
The MG Activities of Daily Living (MG- ADL) Scale an easily administered, 8-item questionnaire. Each item is graded on a 4- point symptom severity scale (0 = normal, 3 = most severe), with the total score ranging from 0 to 24. Test items emphasize the functional impact of muscle weakness (eg, the ability to comb one's hair or brush one's teeth instead of hand grip or outstretched arm strength tests) rather than its quantitation. The MG-ADL requires no special equipment or training and can be administered in 10 minutes. The MG-ADL test domains include ocular (2 items), oropharyngeal (3 items), respiratory (1 item), and extremity/limb (2 items).
The changes in points from baseline assessment score to 3 months follow up assessment score
Change in MG quality of life 15 (MG-QOL15).
Time Frame: The changes in points from baseline assessment score to 3 months follow up assessment score
Everyday clinical use led to the development of an abbreviated 15-item version, the MG-QOL15. These 15 items were derived from the mobility (9 items), symptoms (3 items), general contentment (1 item), and emotional well-being (2 items) domains of the 60-item version. Each of the items/statements (eg, "I have limited my social activity because of my condition") is scored by patients on a 5-point scale ranging from 0 ("not at all") to 4("very much") based on their experience over the previous 4 weeks; the item scores are summed to generate a total score ranging from 0 to 60.
The changes in points from baseline assessment score to 3 months follow up assessment score
Change in MG manual muscle testing (MG-MMT).
Time Frame: The changes in points from baseline assessment score to 3 months follow up assessment score
The MG-MMT assesses the strength or function of 30 muscle groups typically affected by MG and includes a total of 18 items, with 12 assessed bilaterally, and 6 assessed as single items (lid closure, cheek puff, tongue protrusion, jaw closure, neck flexion, and neck extension). Each item is scored on a 5- point severity scale, based on the severity of muscle weakness [0 = no weakness, 1 = weak/mild (25%) impairment, 2 = weak/moderate (50%) impairment, 3 = weak/severe (75%) impairment, 4 = paralyzed/unable to perform]. Bilateral scores are summed for a total item score, and all item scores are summed for a total MG-MMT score. MG-MMT scores range from 0 to 120; domains include ocular (3 items, including eyelid closure), facial/oropharyngeal (3 items), axial strength (neck flexion/extension; 2 items), and limb strength (10 items).
The changes in points from baseline assessment score to 3 months follow up assessment score
Change in MG composite (MGC) Score.
Time Frame: The changes in points from baseline assessment score to 3 months follow up assessment score
The MG Composite (MGC) Scale is considered a mixed outcome measure that incorporates both physician-evaluated and patient-reported outcome items. In creating this composite scale, the developers sought to minimize the number of items (and thus administration time), to maximize the sensitivity and clinical relevance of each item, and to weight items (as recommended by the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America MGFA task force) commensurate with their impact on functional status, QOL, overall health status, and prognosis.13 The MGC Scale is composed of individual items from outcome measures (including the quantitative myasthenia gravis score (QMG), the MG-ADL, and the MG-MMT). Total score spans from 0 to 50.
The changes in points from baseline assessment score to 3 months follow up assessment score

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The proportion of patients with treatment related adverse effects.
Time Frame: At baseline and after 3 months
Adverse effects of treatment of myasthenia gravis
At baseline and after 3 months
The proportion of patients reaching minimal manifestations (MM) or better
Time Frame: After 3 months
Clinical statuses of patients are assessed and categorized according to Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) postintervention status (PIS). It assesses the clinical state of MG patients at any time after institution of treatment for MG
After 3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Assiut University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

January 1, 2022

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2024

Study Completion (Estimated)

March 31, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 31, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 26, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

January 28, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 31, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 30, 2024

Last Verified

July 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • Myasthenia gravis Outcome

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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