ABSTRACT The course of myasthenia gravis (MG) may get complicated by the development of other autoimmune diseases. Estimates of the frequency of autoimmune diseases will help inform patients and physicians, direct health policy discussion, provide etiologic clues, and optimize the management of MG. However, the frequency of autoimmune diseases in people with MG is still uncertain. A systematic search for English language studies was conducted by MEDLINE and EMBASE from 1960 through 2010. Incidence studies and case series of all MG subtypes with information about autoimmune diseases were included; 25 studies met the inclusion criteria. Although there was considerable heterogeneity, the pooled estimate of the coexisting autoimmune diseases in MG was 13% (95% confidence interval, 12%-14%). Autoimmune thyroid disease seems to occur more frequently than other autoimmune conditions in MG patients. Heterogeneity in study estimates could be explained by ascertainment bias and case mix. Furthermore, autoimmune diseases occurred significantly more often in females and anti-acetylcholine receptor seropositive MG patients. Patients with MG have an increased frequency of coexisting autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases seem to occur more often in female and seropositive MG patients. Further research is needed to expand our understanding of these associations.
AD - 1Department of Neurology, Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, P.R. China. AN - 21142828 BT - International Journal of Neuroscience ET - 2010/12/15 LA - eng M1 - 3 N1 - Mao, Zhi-FengYang, Long-XiuMo, Xue-AnQin, ChaoLai, Yong-RongHe, Ning-YuLi, TongHackett, Maree LEnglandThe International journal of neuroscienceInt J Neurosci. 2011 Mar;121(3):121-9. Epub 2010 Dec 13. N2 -ABSTRACT The course of myasthenia gravis (MG) may get complicated by the development of other autoimmune diseases. Estimates of the frequency of autoimmune diseases will help inform patients and physicians, direct health policy discussion, provide etiologic clues, and optimize the management of MG. However, the frequency of autoimmune diseases in people with MG is still uncertain. A systematic search for English language studies was conducted by MEDLINE and EMBASE from 1960 through 2010. Incidence studies and case series of all MG subtypes with information about autoimmune diseases were included; 25 studies met the inclusion criteria. Although there was considerable heterogeneity, the pooled estimate of the coexisting autoimmune diseases in MG was 13% (95% confidence interval, 12%-14%). Autoimmune thyroid disease seems to occur more frequently than other autoimmune conditions in MG patients. Heterogeneity in study estimates could be explained by ascertainment bias and case mix. Furthermore, autoimmune diseases occurred significantly more often in females and anti-acetylcholine receptor seropositive MG patients. Patients with MG have an increased frequency of coexisting autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases seem to occur more often in female and seropositive MG patients. Further research is needed to expand our understanding of these associations.
PY - 2011 SN - 1563-5279 (Electronic)0020-7454 (Linking) SP - 121 EP - 9 T2 - International Journal of Neuroscience TI - Frequency of autoimmune diseases in myasthenia gravis: a systematic review VL - 121 ER -