Autoantibody profile in myasthenia gravis patients with a refractory phase.
Muscle Nerve
; 65(5): 607-611, 2022 05.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35195920
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION/AIMS:
A subgroup of myasthenia gravis (MG) patients fail to respond adequately to recommended treatments, a condition referred to as refractory MG. During the refractory phase, patients experience persistent debilitating symptoms with potential life-threatening events or inability to reduce immunosuppressant dosages and minimize long-term toxicities.METHODS:
We conducted a retrospective, single-center study of 113 MG patients to investigate the autoantibody profile and clinical characteristics of refractory MG patients, compared with nonrefractory patients, based on predefined criteria.RESULTS:
Fifteen patients (13.3%) were classified as refractory. Double-seronegative MG (DSNMG), without detectable nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) or muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) antibodies, was identified in six refractory patients, significantly higher than those with nonrefractory MG (40% vs 16.3%; P = .031). None of the refractory patients had MuSK antibodies. Patients in the refractory group more frequently had an earlier disease onset, thymic pathology, and thymectomy (P ≤. 03 for all).DISCUSSION:
In this study, patients with refractory MG were more likely than those with nonrefractory MG to be DSN; and refractory DSNMG patients had worse MGFA classes in their recent visit compared with anti-AChR positive refractory patients. Refractory DSNMG patients may represent a distinct group that requires more individualized and targeted treatment approaches.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Receptores Nicotínicos
/
Miastenia Gravis
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Muscle Nerve
Ano de publicação:
2022
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Grécia