Remember in Week 2 when we learned about the Thymus gland? Turns out, surgery to remove the thymus (thymectomy) can help improve MG symptoms. Let’s recap about the thymus and learn more about this treatment.
Thymus' Role: Throughout our younger years, the thymus is busy making antibodies. These are proteins that help our body fight off invaders.
Changes Over Time: While it's a bustling hub in our childhood, by the time we reach adulthood, the thymus usually becomes much smaller and quieter. But for some, it remains large and continues its antibody production. Researchers think this can cause MG.
Why Remove It? There are two main reasons:
To alleviate the weakness caused by MG.
To get rid of a thymoma, a kind of tumor that forms on the thymus. This tumor is generally benign (not harmful), but in rare cases, it can be malignant (harmful).
Thymoma Check: If you're diagnosed with MG, it's essential to get a chest CT scan. This is because about 10% of MG patients have a thymoma. It's always better to know and act accordingly.
Goals of the Surgery:
Make the patient's weakness better.
Reduce the amount and types of medications they need.
Ideally, help patients reach a state where they're free from all weakness and don't need any MG medications.
When to Expect Results: This isn't an instant fix. After the surgery, it might take anywhere from one to two years (or even more) to see the full benefits. This surgery is more about long-term benefits than immediate relief.
You can read more information here
Disclaimer
Content has been taken from MGFA, adapted and clinically reviewed for accuracy.