EMG evidence of myopathy and the occurrence of titin autoantibodies in patients with myasthenia gravis |
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Authors: | Finn E Somnier Geir O Skeie Johan A Aarli Werner Trojaborg |
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Institution: | Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, National Hospital (Rigshospitalet), 9 Blegdamsvej, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. somnier@post5.tele.dk |
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Abstract: | We studied 65 patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). Clinical, neurophysiological, immunological, and histological findings suggested the coexistence of a presumed autoimmune myopathy. The clinical features were persistent pyridostigmine-resistant weakness and atrophy of striated muscles. The myopathy was found more often in patients with late-onset MG than in those with early-onset (37% vs 13%). Patients with myopathy were also prone to have other immune disorders (47% vs 13%). Elevated titres of antibodies against titin were detected more often in patients with electromyography (EMG) evidence of myopathy than in the sera of those without, and only in late-onset MG cases. Copyright Lippincott Williams & Wilkins |
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Keywords: | myasthenia gravis autoimmune myopathy striational muscle autoantibodies anti-titin antibodies |
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