title: Titin antibodies in patients with late onset myasthenia gravis: clinical correlations.
abstract: We have tested sera from 21 thymectomized patients with onset of MG after 40 years of age and without thymoma for antibodies against titin, using ELISA with the titin peptide MGT-30. Titin is a myofibrillar protein unique to striated muscle and important for the elastic recoil of muscle cells. Titin antibodies were detected in 9 of the 21 sera. MG symptoms as assessed by a 6 point disability score (0-5) were significantly more severe in the titin antibody positive patients both at peak of illness; 3.7 vs. 3.1 (p < 0.02) and at latest follow up; 2.1 vs. 0.8 (p < 0.01). All titin antibody positive patients were on immunosuppressive drug treatment at least follow-up, whereas only 3 of 12 patients without titin antibodies used immunosuppressive drugs. The presence of circulating titin antibodies in late-onset non-thymoma MG patients indicates a more severe disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: G O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Skeie
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mygland
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Aarli
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Gilhus
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D064211:Connectin; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D064211:Connectin; D009124:Muscle Proteins; C577285:TTN protein, human; D011494:Protein Kinases