AChRAb and MuSKAb double-seropositive myasthenia gravis: a distinct subtype?

This study investigated the characteristics of double-seropositive myasthenia gravis (DSP-MG) in southern China for disease subtype classification.MethodsA case-control study was carried out in which the characteristics of DSP-MG patients (n = 17) were compared to those of muscle-specific tyrosine kinase antibody-positive (MuSK)-MG and acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive (AChR)-MG patients (n = 8 and 27, respectively). We also performed a literature review of DSP-MG patients.ResultsCompared to AChR-MG, DSP-MG had greater bulbar dysfunction (47.1% vs 18.6%,P = 0.04), higher incidence of myasthenia crisis (41.2% vs 14.8%,P = 0.04), more severe Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America classification at maximum worsening, greater autoantibody abnormalities (70.6% vs 33.3%,P = 0.015), greater need for immunosuppressant treatment (58.8% vs 3.7%,P <  0.001), and worse prognosis with less remission (11.8% vs 55.6%,P = 0.001). There were no differences between DSP-MG and MuSK-MG patients. DSP-MG described in published reports was comparable to MuSK-MG.DiscussionDSP-MG in southern China may be a subtype of MuSK-MG.
Source: Neurological Sciences - Category: Neurology Source Type: research