Acetylcholine receptor antibodies in myasthenia gravis are associated with greater risk of diabetes and thyroid disease |
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Authors: | Toth C McDonald D Oger J Brownell K |
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Institution: | Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary and the Calgary Health Region, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. corytoth@shaw.ca |
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Abstract: | OBJECTIVE: Myasthenia gravis (MG) may be associated with the presence of acetylcholine receptor antibodies (AChRAb) seropositive MG (SPMG)] or their absence seronegative MG (SNMG)]. Along with features of MG, the presence of the AChRAb may relate to the existence of other immune-mediated diseases. We sought to determine the association of SPMG with other potential autoimmune diseases. METHODS: A retrospective evaluation of prospectively identified MG patients at a tertiary care center was performed, with patients separated into SPMG and SNMG. Prevalence of other immune-mediated disorders, as well as the epidemiology, sensitivity of diagnostic testing, and thymic pathology, was contrasted between both patient groups. RESULTS: Of the 109 MG patients identified, 66% were SPMG. SPMG was associated with a greater likelihood of significant repetitive stimulation decrement, the presence of either thymoma or thymic hyperplasia, and the presence of thyroid disease. In addition, all patients with a diagnosis of diabetes, concurrent with MG, were found to be SPMG. CONCLUSIONS: AChRAb and SPMG impart not only a distinctive clinical and electrophysiological phenotype of MG, but are also associated with the heightened presence of endocrinological disease. |
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Keywords: | myasthenia gravis diabetes thyroid disease |
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