title: [Effects of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors on patients with MuSK antibody positive myasthenia gravis].
abstract: In order to clarify the clinical characteristics and effects of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors of patients with generalized myasthenia gravis with antibodies to muscle specific kinase (MuSK), we investigated seven patients with MuSK antibodies and eleven patients without both antibodies of acetylcholine receptor and MuSK. All patients with MuSK antibodies showed bulbar symptoms, which frequency was significantly higher compared to those in patients without double antibodies. The frequency of positive result of Tensilon test was significantly lower in patients with MuSK antibodies than in those without double antibodies. In response to intravenous edrophonium chloride, MuSK positive patients showed adverse reactions in a small dosage of edrophonium chloride, less than 5 mg, such as fasciculation on facial muscles and stuffy sensation of throat. The adverse responses to a small dosage of intravenous edrophonium chloride injection is useful information to distinguish patients with seronegative generalized MG, whether they have MuSK antibodies or not. When acetylcholinesterase inhibitors medication is tried to patients with MuSK antibodies, if necessary, a small dosage of inhibitors should be used to avoid cholinergic hypersensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Utano National Hospital.
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Konishi
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kousaka
authors.forename: Kentarou
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamakawa
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Kiyoe
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000276:immunology*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; C095714:MUSK protein, human; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases