Table 1 Demographic data of studies selected for this review

Wolfe/2016 [14]

(2006–2012)

36 centers, 32 in USA

Multicenter

RCT

66 (50,16)

60 (39,21)

Average MG score 6.15

Average MG score 8.99

3 years

Predinisone

Barnett/2014 [17] (2000–2013) Canada

Single center Retrospective

Unmatched (U) matched (M)

U- 183 (124,59)

M- 49 (25, 24)

U- 212 (89, 123)

M- 49 (27, 22)

R/MM^a

U-40 (22%)

M⁻¹⁰(21%)

R/MM^a

U-49 (23%) M^− 3(06%)

60 months

Prednisone

Bachmann/2009 [18]

(1980–2005)

Germany

Single center Retrospective

84 (56, 28)

88 (50, 38)

35 (42%)

12 (14%)

32 (38%)

15 (17%)

Mean = 10 years

Pyridostigmine/azathioprine/glucocorticoids/ plasmapheresis

Al-Moalen/2008 [19]

(1984–2006)

Saudi Arabia

Single center Retrospective

73 (49, 24)

23 (13, 10)

10 (14%)

0

24 (33%)

6 (26%)

Mean = 7.2 years

Pyridostigmine/prednisolone/azathioprine

Tsinzerling/2007 [20]

(1956–2006)

Sweden

Single center Retrospective

261 (179,82)

211 (105,106)

77 (29.5%)

32 (15%)

139 (53%)

142 (67%)

> 1.5 year

Azathioprine/cyclosporine/steroids

Kawaguchi/2007 [21]

(1999–2000)

Japan

Multicenter Retrospective

20 (10, 10)

14 (11, 3)

6 (30%)

3 (21%)

10 (50%)

8 (57%)

11.7 years (surgical)

7.8 years (non-surgical)

Cholinesterase inhibitors/corticosteroids/other immunosuppressive agents

Werneck/2000 [22] (1973–1995) Brazil

Single center Retrospective matched

28 (20, 8)

28 (20, 8)

6 (21%)

9 (32%)

8 (29%)

1 (4%)

Mean

Surgical = 6.3 years

Non-surgical = 3.5 years

Prednisolone/ cholinesterase

Inhibitors/ immunosuppressive

agents

Lorenzana/1999 [23]

(1991–1995)

Colombia

Single center RCT

11 (10, 1)

18 (16, 2)

Fatigue gain 9.1 s.

Fatigue gain 2.2 s.

Strength 2.1

Strength 0.25

2 years

Prednisolone/pyridostigmine/prostigmine

Robertson/1998 [24] (1965–1997) UK

Single center Retrospective

22 (21,1)

41 (27,14)

6 (27%)

3 (7%)

12 (55%)

15 (37%)

Not reported

Anticholinesterase/steroids/azathioprine/plasmapheresis

Evoli/1998 [25] (not informed) Italy

Single center Retrospective matched

45 (35,10)

20 (14,6)

15 (33%)

2 (10%)

Not reported

Not reported

≥ 3 years

cholinesterase

Inhibitors/ immunosuppressive

Agents/corticosteroids

Mantegazza/1990 [26] (not informed) Italy

Multicenter Retrospective

555 (not reported)

313 (not reported)

84 (15%)

19 (6%)

160 (29%)

56 (18%)

Mean = 4,9 years

Glucocorticoids/imunossupressive agents/ plasmapheresis

Donaldson/1990 [27]

(1975–1988)

USA

Single center Retrospective

90

57

23 (26%)

5 (9%)

30 (33%)

11 (19%)

Mean 8 years

Prednisolone/pyridostigmine/azathioprine/cyclophosphamide/ plasmapheresis

Valli/1987 [28] (1973–1985) Italy

Single center Retrospective

63

28

22 (35%)

2 (7%)

28 (44%)

19 (68%)

2–12 years

Cholinesterase inhibitors/corticosteroids/azathioprine

Papatestas/1987 [29]

(1951–1985)

USA

Single center Retrospective

788 (not reported)

1048 (not reported)

181 (23%)

146 (14%)

Not reported

Not reported

Not reported

Not reported

Assis/1987 [30]

(not informed) Brazil

Single center Retrospective

19 (17, 2)

14 (12, 2)

6 (32%)

3 (21%)

12 (63%)

10 (71%)

8–24 years

Anticolinesterasic

Oosterhius/1981 [31]

(1960–1980)

The Netherlands

Single center Retrospective

144

183

39 (27%)

34 (19%)

Not reported

Not reported

10.2 years (surgical)

16.8 years (non-surgical)

Cholinesterase inhibitors/corticosteroids/azathioprine

Emeryk/1976 [32]

(1963–1973) Poland

Single center Retrospective

112 (90,22)

75 (52,23)

26 (23%)

7 (9%)

70 (62%)

35 (47%)

Mean 3 years

Cholinesterase inhibitors

Buckingham/1976 [33] (?-65) USA

Single center Retrospective matched

80 (64,16)

80 (64,16)

27 (34%)

6 (7.5%)

26 (32%)

13 (16%)

19.5 years (surgical)

23 years (non-surgical)

Not reported

Perlo/1971 [34]

(?)

USA

Multicenter Retrospective

267 (217,50)

417 (?)

92 (34%)

71 (17%)

109 (41%)

46 (11%)

1–28 years

Edrophonium chloride/neostigmine

Total

2911

2930