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.
Department of Neurology, University of California at Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA. maagius@ucdavis.edu
Mark A
MA
Agius
David P
DP
Richman
Robert H
RH
Fairclough
Johan
J
Aarli
Nils Erik
NE
Gilhus
Fredrik
F
Romi
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