Non-Myasthenia Gravis Immune Syndromes and the Thymus: Is There a Role for Thymectomy?

Thorac Surg Clin. 2019 May;29(2):215-225. doi: 10.1016/j.thorsurg.2018.12.008. Epub 2019 Mar 7.

Abstract

Thymectomy has long been considered, performed, and discussed for many different nonmyasthenic immune syndromes. Thymectomy is now an established treatment for MG, and has been performed for other immune syndromes with varying degrees of improvement. Although numerous reports document immune syndromes' association with thymoma, few address the role of thymectomy in symptom resolution. This review assesses thymectomy in the various nonmyasthenic immune syndromes for which it has been tried. Based on this review, it seems appropriate to revisit a more active role for thymectomy in pure red cell aplasia, pemphigus, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and ulcerative colitis.

Keywords: Autoimmune disease; Immune syndrome; Thymectomy; Thymic epithelial tumor; Thymoma.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Autoimmune Diseases / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Thymectomy*