Journal of Neuroimmunology
Volume 218, Issue 1 , Pages 102-106, 25 January 2010

Anti-acetylcholinesterase antibodies associate with ocular myasthenia gravis

  • Carlo Provenzano

      Affiliations

    • Institute of General Pathology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Institute of General Pathology, Catholic University, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy. Tel.: +39 06 30154914; fax: +39 06 3386446.
    • These authors contributed equally to the present paper.
    • ,
  • Mariapaola Marino

      Affiliations

    • Institute of General Pathology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
    • These authors contributed equally to the present paper.
    • ,
  • Flavia Scuderi

      Affiliations

    • Institute of General Pathology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
    • ,
  • Amelia Evoli

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurosciences, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
    • ,
  • Emanuela Bartoccioni

      Affiliations

    • Institute of General Pathology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy

Received 4 September 2009; received in revised form 6 November 2009; accepted 6 November 2009. published online 30 November 2009.

Abstract 

In MG, anti-AChR or anti-MuSK abs impair neuromuscular transmission. Partial inhibition of AChE can ameliorate symptoms, while a complete block causes a cholinergic blockade. We found anti-AChE abs in 115/240 MG patients, with no correlation with sex, age at onset, thymus pathology, presence of anti-AChR or anti-MuSK antibodies. We found a correlation with the ocular form of the disease, and with milder forms of MG not requiring immunosuppressants; moreover, when we considered only those patients who were off AChEI therapy, we found that ocular patients were positive for anti-AChE abs, while generalized patients were negative. According to an experimental model, we hypothesize that anti-AChE abs could contribute to ptosis through an inhibition of the sympathetic innervation of the tarsal muscle.

Keywords: Autoantibodies, Acetylcholinesterase, Neuromuscular junction, Sympathetic system, Myasthenia gravis

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PII: S0165-5728(09)00463-9

doi:10.1016/j.jneuroim.2009.11.004

Journal of Neuroimmunology
Volume 218, Issue 1 , Pages 102-106, 25 January 2010

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