Tools to differentiate immunologic and non-immunologic myasthenia gravis in infancy

Neuropediatrics. 1988 May;19(2):92-5. doi: 10.1055/s-2008-1052408.

Abstract

Twelve patients between 15 months and 13 years of age with clinical and pharmacological features of myasthenia gravis were studied. Repetitive nerve stimulation did not offer valuable information; the patients demonstrated either inspecific muscular decremental response or had normal behavior. Two clear groups of patients were identified after measurements of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies and MEPP amplitude recorded in the diaphragm of mice injected with sera from those patients. The first group included patients with positive AChR antibodies titers and decreased MEPP amplitude. The second one had negative AChR antibodies titers and MEPPs with normal amplitude. These data strongly suggest immunologic and non-immunologic mechanisms for the former and later respectively.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / drug effects
  • Animals
  • Autoantibodies / blood*
  • Autoantibodies / pharmacology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Tests / methods*
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Myasthenia Gravis / blood
  • Myasthenia Gravis / diagnosis
  • Myasthenia Gravis / immunology*
  • Receptors, Cholinergic / immunology*
  • Ulnar Nerve / physiopathology

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Receptors, Cholinergic