West Nile virus induces a post-infectious pro-inflammatory state that explains transformation of stable ocular myasthenia gravis to myasthenic crises

We present a patient with stable ocular MG and positive anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies who progressed to myasthenic crisis after WNV neuroinvasive disease. In this case of stable autoimmune disease with proven auto-antibodies, transformation to generalized disease cannot be attributed to molecular mimicry, which requires that an immune response first be generated against an infectious agent.

Source: Journal of the Neurological Sciences - September 13, 2018 Category: Neurology Authors: M.A. Hawkes, S. Hocker, A.A. Leis Tags: Clinical Short Communication Source Type: research