Muscle-Specific Tyrosine Kinase-Associated Myasthenia Gravis: A Neuromuscular Surprise

Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular autoimmune disease that results in skeletal muscle weakness that worsens after periods of activity and improves after rest. Myasthenia gravis means “grave (serious), muscle weakness.” Although not completely curable, it can be managed well with a relatively high...

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Main Authors: Hassam Ali, Rahul Pamarthy, Nayab Ahsan, null WashmaAwan, Shiza Sarfraz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Neurological Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/1326442
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author Hassam Ali
Rahul Pamarthy
Nayab Ahsan
null WashmaAwan
Shiza Sarfraz
author_facet Hassam Ali
Rahul Pamarthy
Nayab Ahsan
null WashmaAwan
Shiza Sarfraz
author_sort Hassam Ali
collection DOAJ
description Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular autoimmune disease that results in skeletal muscle weakness that worsens after periods of activity and improves after rest. Myasthenia gravis means “grave (serious), muscle weakness.” Although not completely curable, it can be managed well with a relatively high quality of life and expectancy. In myasthenia gravis, antibodies against the acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction interfere with regular muscular contraction. Although most commonly caused by antibodies to the acetylcholine receptor, antibodies against MuSK (muscle-specific kinase) protein can also weaken transmission at the neuromuscular junction. Muscle-specific tyrosine kinase myasthenia gravis (MuSK-Ab MG) is a rare subtype of myasthenia gravis with distinct pathogenesis and unique clinical features. Diagnosis can be challenging due to its atypical presentation as compared to seropositive myasthenia gravis. It responds inconsistently to steroids, but plasma exchange and immunosuppressive therapies have shown promising results. We report a case of a 49-year-old female who presented with acute hypoxic respiratory failure. Our patient experienced progressive, undiagnosed MuSK-Ab MG for years without a diagnosis.
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spelling doaj-art-06bd9fa5a9144b6caf9acd9bd18bb5562025-02-03T06:45:20ZengWileyCase Reports in Neurological Medicine2090-66762021-01-01202110.1155/2021/1326442Muscle-Specific Tyrosine Kinase-Associated Myasthenia Gravis: A Neuromuscular SurpriseHassam Ali0Rahul Pamarthy1Nayab Ahsan2null WashmaAwan3Shiza Sarfraz4Department of Internal MedicineDepartment of Internal MedicineDepartment of Internal MedicineDepartment of Internal MedicineDepartment of Internal MedicineMyasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular autoimmune disease that results in skeletal muscle weakness that worsens after periods of activity and improves after rest. Myasthenia gravis means “grave (serious), muscle weakness.” Although not completely curable, it can be managed well with a relatively high quality of life and expectancy. In myasthenia gravis, antibodies against the acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction interfere with regular muscular contraction. Although most commonly caused by antibodies to the acetylcholine receptor, antibodies against MuSK (muscle-specific kinase) protein can also weaken transmission at the neuromuscular junction. Muscle-specific tyrosine kinase myasthenia gravis (MuSK-Ab MG) is a rare subtype of myasthenia gravis with distinct pathogenesis and unique clinical features. Diagnosis can be challenging due to its atypical presentation as compared to seropositive myasthenia gravis. It responds inconsistently to steroids, but plasma exchange and immunosuppressive therapies have shown promising results. We report a case of a 49-year-old female who presented with acute hypoxic respiratory failure. Our patient experienced progressive, undiagnosed MuSK-Ab MG for years without a diagnosis.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/1326442
spellingShingle Hassam Ali
Rahul Pamarthy
Nayab Ahsan
null WashmaAwan
Shiza Sarfraz
Muscle-Specific Tyrosine Kinase-Associated Myasthenia Gravis: A Neuromuscular Surprise
Case Reports in Neurological Medicine
title Muscle-Specific Tyrosine Kinase-Associated Myasthenia Gravis: A Neuromuscular Surprise
title_full Muscle-Specific Tyrosine Kinase-Associated Myasthenia Gravis: A Neuromuscular Surprise
title_fullStr Muscle-Specific Tyrosine Kinase-Associated Myasthenia Gravis: A Neuromuscular Surprise
title_full_unstemmed Muscle-Specific Tyrosine Kinase-Associated Myasthenia Gravis: A Neuromuscular Surprise
title_short Muscle-Specific Tyrosine Kinase-Associated Myasthenia Gravis: A Neuromuscular Surprise
title_sort muscle specific tyrosine kinase associated myasthenia gravis a neuromuscular surprise
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/1326442
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AT nullwashmaawan musclespecifictyrosinekinaseassociatedmyastheniagravisaneuromuscularsurprise
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