Conditions: Ocular Myasthenia Gravis
Keywords: Ocular myasthenia gravis Prednisone Steroids
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 11
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of prednisone in patients diagnosed with ocular myasthenia.

Funding Source - FDA OOPD

Detailed description:
The purpose of this study is to learn two things about prednisone in patients with ocular myasthenia. The first thing we aim to learn is whether or not prednisone is effective in improving the symptoms of double vision and drooping eyes that are experienced by patients with ocular myasthenia. The second thing we aim to learn is whether we can find a dose of prednisone that is well tolerated and safe. The overall goal is to find out whether a dose of prednisone that is safe and well tolerated is also effective in improving the symptoms of ocular myasthenia.

After completing screening assessments to confirm eligibility, all participants will receive treatment with pyridostigmine. If a participant's symptoms do not resolve within the first month while being treated with pyridostigmine, they will be randomized to receive prednisone or placebo. The amount of study medication a participant receives will depend on how their symptoms respond to the medication and if they experience any side effects.

After four months, participants that continue to have symptoms of ocular myasthenia and do not have side effects will receive open label high dose prednisone. Participants that no longer have symptoms will taper their dose of study drug in a double-blind fashion.

Arms:
arm 1: Corticosteroid arm 2: Matched, inactive substance

Interventions: intervention 1: Prednisone intervention 2: Placebo
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Prednisone will be adjusted based on combined measures of tolerability and efficacy. Capsules will contain 10mg of prednisone. intervention 2: Placebo dosages will be adjusted based on combined measures of tolerability and efficacy. Capsules will contain matching placebo.

Protocol document: