Coexistence of anti-MuSK antibody-positive myasthenia gravis and rheumatoid arthritis
Abstract Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized with symmetric synovitis and occasional extra articular involvement; also, some neurologic disorders can be observed during the disease course. Myasthenia gravis (MG) is one of them and it is an autoimmune disease o...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2020-08-01
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| Series: | The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41983-020-00222-y |
| _version_ | 1828462605980663808 |
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| author | Amber Eker Mehtap Tınazlı Senem Ertugrul Mut |
| author_facet | Amber Eker Mehtap Tınazlı Senem Ertugrul Mut |
| author_sort | Amber Eker |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized with symmetric synovitis and occasional extra articular involvement; also, some neurologic disorders can be observed during the disease course. Myasthenia gravis (MG) is one of them and it is an autoimmune disease of neuromuscular junction. It is caused by autoantibodies against neuromuscular junction proteins: the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) and the muscle specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK). Very few studies have reported the associated autoimmune disorders in MuSK-MG. Here, we present the first patient who has MuSK antibody-positive MG gravis and rheumatoid arthritis. Case presentation A 53-year-old woman with RA presented with fatigue and fluctuating proximal muscle weakness. Her electroneurophysiological investigation resembled MG. Her AchR antibody level was normal but MuSK antibodies were high. After the acute treatment with plasmapheresis which lead to complete recovery in myasthenic symptoms, she is following with mycophenolate mofetil. Conclusions Concomitant autoimmune disorders are common in the population. MG should be considered in patients with an autoimmune disorder and developing new neuromuscular weakness. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T02:38:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ff9d08a7ae5a4bc784328927acba7e1c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1687-8329 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T02:38:42Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery |
| spelling | doaj.art-ff9d08a7ae5a4bc784328927acba7e1c2022-12-22T01:23:38ZengSpringerOpenThe Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery1687-83292020-08-015611310.1186/s41983-020-00222-yCoexistence of anti-MuSK antibody-positive myasthenia gravis and rheumatoid arthritisAmber Eker0Mehtap Tınazlı1Senem Ertugrul Mut2Faculty of Medicine Department of Neurology, Eastern Mediterranean UniversityFaculty of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine, Near East UniversityFaculty of Medicine Department of Neurology, Kyrenia UniversityAbstract Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized with symmetric synovitis and occasional extra articular involvement; also, some neurologic disorders can be observed during the disease course. Myasthenia gravis (MG) is one of them and it is an autoimmune disease of neuromuscular junction. It is caused by autoantibodies against neuromuscular junction proteins: the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) and the muscle specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK). Very few studies have reported the associated autoimmune disorders in MuSK-MG. Here, we present the first patient who has MuSK antibody-positive MG gravis and rheumatoid arthritis. Case presentation A 53-year-old woman with RA presented with fatigue and fluctuating proximal muscle weakness. Her electroneurophysiological investigation resembled MG. Her AchR antibody level was normal but MuSK antibodies were high. After the acute treatment with plasmapheresis which lead to complete recovery in myasthenic symptoms, she is following with mycophenolate mofetil. Conclusions Concomitant autoimmune disorders are common in the population. MG should be considered in patients with an autoimmune disorder and developing new neuromuscular weakness.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41983-020-00222-yMyasthenia gravisAnti-MuSK antibodyRheumatoid arthritis |
| spellingShingle | Amber Eker Mehtap Tınazlı Senem Ertugrul Mut Coexistence of anti-MuSK antibody-positive myasthenia gravis and rheumatoid arthritis The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery Myasthenia gravis Anti-MuSK antibody Rheumatoid arthritis |
| title | Coexistence of anti-MuSK antibody-positive myasthenia gravis and rheumatoid arthritis |
| title_full | Coexistence of anti-MuSK antibody-positive myasthenia gravis and rheumatoid arthritis |
| title_fullStr | Coexistence of anti-MuSK antibody-positive myasthenia gravis and rheumatoid arthritis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Coexistence of anti-MuSK antibody-positive myasthenia gravis and rheumatoid arthritis |
| title_short | Coexistence of anti-MuSK antibody-positive myasthenia gravis and rheumatoid arthritis |
| title_sort | coexistence of anti musk antibody positive myasthenia gravis and rheumatoid arthritis |
| topic | Myasthenia gravis Anti-MuSK antibody Rheumatoid arthritis |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41983-020-00222-y |
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