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From: abc@brl-sem.ARPA (Brint Cooper )
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: A Request for Topics.
Message-ID: <350@brl-sem.ARPA>
Date: Sun, 7-Jul-85 20:55:55 EDT
Article-I.D.: brl-sem.350
Posted: Sun Jul  7 20:55:55 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 8-Jul-85 10:16:53 EDT
References: <1772@aecom.UUCP>
Reply-To: abc@brl-sem (SECAD/CSMB) .ARPA (Brint Cooper (SECAD/CSMB) )
Distribution: na
Organization: Ballistic Research Lab
Lines: 37

Thank you for your kind offer.  As I indicated in private
mail, I have had myasthenia gravis for over six years.  Last
year, I had the thymectomy.  I've had nearly-total exchanges
of plasma via plasmapheresis on six occasions--three during a
March hospitalization and three during November.  I take
prednisone (60 and 40 mg on alternate days) for immune
suppression and mestinon for symptomatic control.  I am a 46
year-old male.  The disease, at present, restricts my
already-sedintary lifestyle by weakening my breathing and
talking.

What I would like to know:

	1. The probabilities of improvement and/or worsening
of the disease.

	2. Effects of myasthenia on my life expectancy.

	3. Successes with newer forms of therapy such as
monoclonal antibodies to the myasthenia antibodies and the use
of Cyclosporin in place of prednisone.  Risks associated with
same.

	4. Statistical risks associated with use of Immuran as
an immunosuppressant.

Please, Craig, treat this only with the priority it deserves.
Many more folks are threatened with cancer and diabetes.  Only
about 250,000 of us have MG.  But if you run across anything
in your reading, a citation would be appreciated.

Best wishes,

Brint