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Clinical experience of seropositive ganglionic acetylcholine receptor antibody in a tertiary neurology referral center
Author(s) -
Li Yuebing,
Jammoul Adham,
Mente Karin,
Li Jianbo,
Shields Robert W.,
Vernino Steven,
RaeGrant Alexander
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.24559
Subject(s) - medicine , neurology , autoimmunity , gastroenterology , myasthenia gravis , acetylcholine receptor , malignancy , pathogenesis , autoantibody , antibody , neurological disorder , pathology , immunology , central nervous system disease , receptor , psychiatry
Antibody against the acetylcholine receptor of autonomic ganglia (gAChR‐Ab) is implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy (AAG) and several other disorders. Methods: This study was a retrospective evaluation of 95 patients positive for gAChR‐Ab. Results: Twenty‐one (22%) patients had AAG, with a greater median gAChR‐Ab level (0.21 nmol/L) and higher percentage (57%) of antibody levels >0.20 nmol/L when compared with the remaining 74 patients without autonomic manifestations (non‐AAG group, 0.10 nmol/L and 15%, respectively). Only 2 new cases of malignancy were diagnosed after gAChR‐Ab detection. The non‐AAG group was associated with high frequencies of neurological and non‐neurological autoimmunity, but also included 23 (31%) patients with mostly degenerative disorders. Conclusion: Detection of gAChR‐Ab, especially at a higher level, is helpful for the diagnosis of AAG in patients with corresponding autonomic symptoms. However, its value is limited for predicting cancer risk and for diagnosis and management of patients without autonomic symptoms. Muscle Nerve 52:386–391, 2015