Low vaccine coverage and absence of exacerbations after vaccination in a Myasthenia Gravis cohort: An observational retrospective series of 89 patients

Abstract

Introduction

This study aims to collect data on the vaccination status of Myasthenia Gravis (MG) patients, assess the coverage of vaccines, and examine MG exacerbations.

Methods

We conducted a retrospectively observational study including patients diagnosed with MG between 2015 and 2023 with antibodies against acetylcholine receptors.

Results

Eighty-nine patients were analysed. Forty-one (46.1%) were women. The median age at onset was 68 years. The median follow-up was 3.9 years. Sixteen (17.9%) patients had early-onset MG and 32 (36.0%) had ocular MG. Fifty-four (60.7%) patients received pneumococcal vaccines. Seventy-five (84.3%) patients received one dose of the seasonal influenza vaccine. Ten patients (76.9%) received hepatitis A virus (HAV) vaccination, and 33 (64.7%) received four doses of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine. One and six patients were classified as non-responders for HAV and HBV vaccines, respectively. Two patients were vaccinated with the live attenuated varicella-zoster virus vaccine. No differences were found between vaccination in early versus late-onset MG. No MG exacerbations were observed following vaccination.

Discussion

It is mandatory to establish recommendations for vaccination to ensure timely and appropriate immunisation.