[Clinical-electroneuromyographic and immunologic aspects of myasthenia gravis with anti-musk antibodies].

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular autoimmune disorder caused by autoaggression directed to different antigenic goals of peripherial neuromotor apparatus. Approximately 80% of patients have detectable serum antibodies against acetylcholine receptors (ACHR). About 10-15% of the MG patients do not have ACHR - antibodies. This form is called seronegative (SN) MG. IN 35% of SN patients antibodies against muscle - specific fyrozine kinase (MUSK) is clearly observed. According to modern data, SN MG patients are resistant against traditional pathogenetic therapy of MG. In order to develop the strategy of timely and adequate treatment of SN MUSK positive MG, we decided to build up differential diagnostic criteriums for this form of MG. For this purpose we analyzed clinical - electroneuromyographic (ENMG), immunologic and pharmacological data of 9 SN MUSK positive MG patients. The specific clinical patterns for SN positive MG was not revealed. The analogical clinic - ENMG and pharmacological signs were observed in seropositive MG. Accordingly, antibodies do not determine the peculiarity of this desease. Therefore, the revelation of the antibodies has not only diagnostic value; it also defines the expediency of pathogenetic therapy of MG.