Three forms of immune myasthenia.
We propose a new classification for immune myasthenia based on antibody pattern. The types of immune myasthenia presently characterized by known antibody targets segregate into three groups: type 1, in which the muscle target is the acetylcholine receptor only; type 2, in which titin antibodies are present in addition to acetylcholine receptor antibodies; and type 3, in which muscle-specific kinase antibodies are present in the absence of acetylcholine receptor antibodies. The immune target is unknown in the patients with immune myasthenia not associated with these antibodies. This classification has advantages over the present classifications as regards homogeneity of groups, etiology, mechanism of disease, and prognosis.
Agius
Mark A
MA
Department of Neurology, University of California at Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA. maagius@ucdavis.edu
Richman
David P
DP
Fairclough
Robert H
RH
Aarli
Johan
J
Gilhus
Nils Erik
NE
Romi
Fredrik
F
D000906:Antibodies / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D064211:Connectin; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000276:immunology; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000276:immunology*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies; D064211:Connectin; D000939:Epitopes; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; C577285:TTN protein, human; D011494:Protein Kinases; C095714:MUSK protein, human; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases