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EMG evidence of myopathy and the occurrence of titin autoantibodies in patients with myasthenia gravis
Author(s) -
Somnier Finn E.,
Skeie Geir O.,
Aarli Johan A.,
Trojaborg Werner
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
european journal of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1468-1331
pISSN - 1351-5101
DOI - 10.1046/j.1468-1331.1999.650555.x
Subject(s) - medicine , myasthenia gravis , titin , autoantibody , myopathy , pathology , immunology , antibody , myocyte , sarcomere
We studied 65 patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). Clinical, neurophysiological, immunological, and histological findings suggested the coexistence of a presumed autoimmune myopathy. The clinical features were persistent pyridostigmine‐resistant weakness and atrophy of striated muscles. The myopathy was found more often in patients with late‐onset MG than in those with early‐onset (37% vs 13%). Patients with myopathy were also prone to have other immune disorders (47% vs 13%). Elevated titres of antibodies against titin were detected more often in patients with electromyography (EMG) evidence of myopathy than in the sera of those without, and only in late‐onset MG cases.