Abstract | BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: METHODS: The types of thymus histology, coexisting autoimmune diseases and associated Abs in 83 MuSK-Ab-positive patients nationwide were investigated and were compared with those in AChR-Ab-positive patients followed at our institute (n = 83). As for the autoantibodies associated with thymoma, titin Abs were measured. RESULTS:
Thymoma was not present in any of the MuSK-Ab-positive patients but presented in 21 patients (25.3%) amongst the AChR-Ab-positive patients. Titin Abs were absent in MuSK-Ab-positive patients but positive in 25 (30.1%) of the AChR-Ab-positive patients. Concomitant autoimmune diseases were present in eight MuSK-Ab-positive patients (9.6%) amongst whom Hashimoto's thyroiditis and rheumatoid arthritis predominated, whereas 22 AChR-Ab-positive patients (26.5%) had one or more concomitant autoimmune diseases of which Graves' disease predominated. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in frequency of thymoma and thymic hyperplasia, coexisting autoimmune diseases and autoantibody positivity between MuSK-Ab-positive and AChR-Ab-positive MG were indicated, suggesting that, in contrast with AChR-Ab-positive MG, thymus does not seem to be involved in the pathogenic mechanisms of MuSK-Ab-positive MG.
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Authors | R Nakata, M Motomura, T Masuda, H Shiraishi, M Tokuda, T Fukuda, T Ando, T Yoshimura, M Tsujihata, A Kawakami |
Journal | European journal of neurology
(Eur J Neurol)
Vol. 20
Issue 9
Pg. 1272-6
(Sep 2013)
ISSN: 1468-1331 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 23679930
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Copyright | © 2013 The Author(s) European Journal of Neurology © 2013 EFNS. |
Chemical References |
- Autoantibodies
- Autoantigens
- Connectin
- Receptors, Cholinergic
- MUSK protein, human
- Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
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Topics |
- Adult
- Asian People
- Autoantibodies
(blood, immunology)
- Autoantigens
(blood, immunology)
- Autoimmune Diseases
(complications)
- Connectin
(immunology)
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Myasthenia Gravis
(complications, immunology, pathology)
- Radioimmunoassay
- Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
(immunology)
- Receptors, Cholinergic
(immunology)
- Thymoma
(complications, pathology)
- Thymus Gland
(pathology)
- Thymus Hyperplasia
(complications, pathology)
- Thymus Neoplasms
(complications, pathology)
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