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We report 425 myasthenic patients who underwent thymectomy during the last 15 years. The authors analyse the results of thymectomy in separate groups, including thymomas (12.7%), childhood myasthenia (9.4%) and combined cases (12.4%). They evaluate the results according to the Disability Status Scale based on a points system. Three series were evaluated: patients operated upon between 1972-1977, 1977-1982 and 1982-1987. Although the results in all three series were good, there has been steady improvement over the years. Childhood myasthenia gravis gave the best results but thymectomy was beneficial in the combined (immunological) group, in long-lasting myasthenia and in thymomas. Factors influencing the results of thymectomy were patients' age, time interval between onset of disease and thymectomy, resistence to therapy and thymic tumour. Thymic activity as reflected in germinal centres can also influence the results: the more active the thymus, the better the results.

The 80-year history of the oculopharyngeal syndrome (ptosis familiaris hereditaria tarda) is summarized together with the author’s own experience of incidence in three generations of a Hungarian family. This is the 19th verified case of oculopharyngeal syndrome (OP sy.) in the literature and the 14th in which hereditary familial incidence could be confirmed. This study covered five generations and a total of 64 persons, of which 61 could be examined. Eight members of the family were affected by the disorder, five of them being examined personally by the author. In every case, the onset of the symptoms occurred between 45 and 50 years of age, only females were affected, and there was no other muscular impairment apart from ptosis and dysphagia. The disease progressed slowly or occasionally remained in a stationary state. Some constitutional abnormalities were also observed as accessory symptoms. They are considered to play a predisposing role and probably promote the progression of dysphagia as ptosis develops. The disease has a hereditary familial nature and its inheritance is dominant. On the basis of its typical symptoms (course, onset, hereditary nature and well-definable histopathology), OP sy. can be regarded as an independent disease entity within the group of progressive muscular dystrophies.

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The preventive effect of Atrovent® Dosier-Aerosol on the airway flow resistance (R_aw) caused by Tensilon® was studied on 10 patients suffering from myasthenia gravis. Atrovent completely prevented the increase of R_aw in 8 cases and considerably decreased it in 2 cases. The measure of the reaction observed may be influenced by the intensity of the cholinergic symptoms occurring on administration of Tensilon as well as by the magnitude of the initial R_aw value. No side-effect which may be attributed to the administration of Atrovent could be observed, the substance did not increase the myasthenic symptoms. According to the study, Atrovent is a suitable medicine for the prevention of airway obstruction caused by Tensilon.