Clinical Information

Fatigable weakness due to impaired postsynaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction is characteristic of myasthenia gravis (MG). A clinical diagnosis should be supported by electrodiagnostic testing, ie, clinical-electrodiagnosis (EDX). Positive autoimmune serology increases certainty of MG diagnosis but needs to be interpreted in the proper clinical-EDX context with response to anticholinesterase medications supporting the diagnosis. Most cases are autoimmune and are caused by IgG autoantibodies binding to critical postsynaptic membrane molecules (nicotinic muscle acetylcholine receptor [AChR] or its interacting proteins, such as muscle-specific kinase [MuSK]). Serologically, the detection of AChR binding antibody provides the best diagnostic sensitivity. However, the presence of both AChR binding and modulating activity improves diagnostic accuracy. Autoantibody detection frequency is lowest in patients with weakness confined to extraocular muscles (72% are positive for AChR binding antibodies) and highest in patients with generalized weakness due to MG (92% are positive for AChR binding antibodies). In adults with MG and AChR antibodies, approximately 20% will have thymoma and, very rarely (<1%), extrathymic cancers. Computerized tomography imaging of the chest is considered the standard of care to evaluate for thymoma.

MuSK antibody is detectable in more than one-third of patients with MG who are seronegative for muscle AChR antibodies. MuSK is involved in integrating and stabilizing AChR clusters at the motor endplate. MuSK is activated when the nerve-derived proteoglycan agrin binds to its receptor, lipoprotein-related protein 4 (LRP4). Patients with MuSK MG are more commonly female. Onset can occur at any age (pediatric to older adult). Patients derive less benefit from anticholinesterase medications, and no neoplasm has been associated with MuSK MG. Although beneficial, thymectomy has not been demonstrated to be helpful in MuSK MG. Patients with both AChR and MuSK autoantibodies benefit from immunotherapy, however, patients with MuSK autoantibodies tend to have more steroid dependence.

In patients with seronegative MG, reconsideration of the diagnosis is important. If clinical-EDX criteria are still met, repeating serological testing within one year can increase serological positivity for AChR antibodies by 15%. The diagnostic sensitivity of these tests depends on the disease severity and duration of symptoms. AChR binding antibodies may be undetectable for 6 to 12 months after MG symptom onset. Only about 5% of adult patients with generalized MG who are not immunosuppressed remain seronegative for muscle AChR beyond 12 months. Objective improvement by electrodiagnostic and strength testing following a therapeutic trial of plasmapheresis or intravenous immune globulin can justify consideration of long-term immunosuppression in patients who are seronegative meeting clinical-EDX criteria.

Note: Single antibody tests may be requested in the follow-up of patients with positive results previously documented in this laboratory.