MuSK antibody-positive, seronegative myasthenia gravis in Korea.
Several reports from Western countries suggest differences in the clinical features of patients with muscle specific kinase (MuSK) antibody-positive and -negative seronegative myasthenia gravis (MG). We performed the first survey in Korea of MuSK antibodies, studying 23 patients with acetylcholine receptor (AChR)-antibody seronegative MG. MuSK antibodies were present in 4 (26.7%) of 15 generalized seronegative MG patients and none of 8 ocular seronegative MG patients. All four MuSK positive patients were females, with pharyngeal and respiratory muscle weakness, and required immunosuppressive treatment. However, overall disease severity and age at onset was similar to that of MuSK-negative MG and treatment responses were equally good.
Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, College of Medicine, Seoul National University 28, Yeongun-dong, Jongno-gu 110-744, Seoul, Korea.
Jee-Young
JY
Lee
Jung Joon
JJ
Sung
Joong-Yang
JY
Cho
Dong-Hoon
DH
Oh
Hyun-Jung
HJ
Kim
Jong-Ha
JH
Park
Kwang Woo
KW
Lee
Young-Chul
YC
Choi
Angela
A
Vincent
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D007223:Infant; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000276:immunology*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013934:Thymectomy / Q000379:methods
D000906:Antibodies; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; C095714:MUSK protein, human; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases