Improvement of quality of life after therapeutic plasma exchange in patients with myasthenic crisis.

INTRODUCTION: We sought to evaluate quality of life patients with myasthenic crisis before and after therapeutic plasma exchange.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In our study we conducted an assessment of the quality of life with the use of the questionnaire SF-36, when executed eleven therapeutic plasma exchange. The assessment was made on baseline and after 4 weeks. We also did neurological clinical evaluation before and after TPE.

RESULTS: Patients in the study showed significant improvement in quality of life after performed therapeutic plasma exchange. The changes were observed in physical functioning, which confirmed the results of the statistical significance of p<0.05. In the analysis, the assessment of mental functioning not obtained the results of statistical significance, but the results also showed improvement in self-assessment. We observed high correlation between general health and physical mental functioning, between the role limitations due to physical health problems and role limitations due to emotional problems, and general health perception and bodily pain.

CONCLUSIONS: Therapeutic plasma exchange significantly improves the quality of life of patients with myasthenia gravis during the crisis.