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Review
. 2020 Aug 25:13:1756286420949808.
doi: 10.1177/1756286420949808. eCollection 2020.

Gender issues of antibody-mediated diseases in neurology: (NMOSD/autoimmune encephalitis/MG)

Ayse Altintas  1 , Justina Dargvainiene  2 , Christiane Schneider-Gold  3 , Nasrin Asgari  4 , Ilya Ayzenberg  5 , Andrea I Ciplea  5 , Ralf Junker  6 , Frank Leypoldt  6 , Klaus-Peter Wandinger  6 , Kerstin Hellwig  7
Affiliations
Review

Gender issues of antibody-mediated diseases in neurology: (NMOSD/autoimmune encephalitis/MG)

Ayse Altintas et al. Ther Adv Neurol Disord. .

Abstract

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), autoimmune encephalitis (AE), myasthenia gravis (MG) and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) are antibody-mediated neurological diseases. They have mostly female predominance, affecting many women during childbearing age. Interactions between the underlying disease (or necessary treatment) and pregnancy can occur in every of these illnesses. Herein, we present the characteristics of NMOSD, AE, MG and LEMS in general, and review published data regarding the influence of the different diseases on fertility, pregnancy, puerperium, treatment strategy during pregnancy and post-partum period, and menopause but also male factors. We summarise key elements that should be borne in mind when confronted with such cases.

Keywords: Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome; autoimmune encephalitis; myasthenia gravis; neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease; pregnancy; sex differences; women.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement: Ayse Altintas has received speaker honoraria for non-promotional education events and travel grants from Merck, TEVA and Novartis. Christiane Schneider-Gold has received consulting and speaker’s honoraria from Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Amicus Therapeutics, Bayer Schering, CSL Behring, Grünenthal, Lupin Pharmaceuticals and TEVA. Andrea I. Ciplea has received speaker honoraria from Bayer Healthcare and travel grants from Sanofi Genzyme, Teva and Novartis. Frank Leypoldt discloses receiving speaker honoraria from Biogen, Roche, Merck, Fresenius, Teva, Bayer, Novartis, Alexion and advisory board memberships Roche, Biogen and Alexion. Kerstin Hellwig has received travel grants from Biogen, Novartis and Merck; received speaker and research honoraria from Biogen Idec Germany, Teva, Sanofi Genzyme, Novartis, Bayer Healthcare, Merck Serono and Roche. Frank Leypoldt, Klaus-Peter Wandinger, Justina Dargvainiene and Ralf Junker disclose working for an academic institution offering commercial antibody testing.

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