title: Increased subsequent risk of myasthenia gravis in children with allergic diseases.
abstract: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disorder that affects the neuromuscular junction. The initiating factors of MG remain unclear. However, allergy has been regarded as a potential risk factor. We included 410 children with MG diagnosed between 2000 and 2008, as well as 1640 randomly selected controls. The odds ratios of MG were calculated to determine the association between MG and preexisting allergic diseases. The children with allergic diseases were at increased subsequent risk of MG, which was associated with the cumulative effect of the concurrent allergic diseases and the frequency of seeking medical care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jeng-Dau
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng-Li
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Te-Chun
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tsai-Chung
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address: weilonger@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Chang-Ching
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Allergic conjunctivitis; Allergic rhinitis; Asthma; Atopic dermatitis; Myasthenia gravis