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Review
. 2018 May;36(2):293-310.
doi: 10.1016/j.ncl.2018.01.004.

Muscle-Specific Tyrosine Kinase and Myasthenia Gravis Owing to Other Antibodies

Michael H Rivner  1 , Mamatha Pasnoor  2 , Mazen M Dimachkie  3 , Richard J Barohn  4 , Lin Mei  5
Affiliations
Review

Muscle-Specific Tyrosine Kinase and Myasthenia Gravis Owing to Other Antibodies

Michael H Rivner et al. Neurol Clin. 2018 May.

Abstract

Around 20% of patients with myasthenia gravis are acetylcholine receptor antibody negative; muscle-specific tyrosine kinase antibodies (MuSK) were identified as the cause of myasthenia gravis in 30% to 40% of these cases. Anti MuSK myasthenia gravis is associated with specific clinical phenotypes. One is a bulbar form with fewer ocular symptoms. Others show an isolated head drop or symptoms indistinguishable from acetylcholine receptor-positive myasthenia gravis. These patients usually respond well to immunosuppressive therapy, but not as well to cholinesterase inhibitors. Other antibodies associated with myasthenia gravis, including low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4, are discussed.

Keywords: Agrin; Cortactin; LRP4; MuSK; Myasthenia gravis; Rapsyn.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Structure of the Neuromuscular junction.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Patient with Anti-MuSK MG
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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