title: Autoimmune myasthenia gravis in childhood.
abstract: The recent identification of an autoimmune process targeting muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) in a subset of seronegative patients with autoimmune myasthenia gravis promises to improve diagnostic accuracy and redirect therapy in at least some seronegative children and adolescents with myasthenia. Clinical features, diagnostic methods, and management strategies pertinent to children with autoimmune myasthenia are discussed, as well as the emerging data regarding the anti-MuSK autoimmune process in myasthenia gravis.
authors.affiliation: University of New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: P Ian
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Andrews
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000367:Age Factors; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000276:immunology*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D001323:Autoantibodies; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; C095714:MUSK protein, human; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases