Prematurity and early-onset juvenile myasthenia gravis

Pediatr Neurol. 1992 Jan-Feb;8(1):51-3. doi: 10.1016/0887-8994(92)90053-2.

Abstract

A child manifested ocular myasthenia gravis at age 16 months which progressed to bulbar and mild systemic weakness over a 3-year period. The medical history was significant for premature birth at 32 weeks gestation and birth weight 940 gm. A review of reported patients with juvenile myasthenia gravis with adequate documentation of the birth history, noncongenital onset, typical clinical course and diagnostic findings, and elevated titers of antiacetylcholine receptor antibodies revealed that 55% with onset before age 3 years had a history of prematurity. This association of myasthenia gravis and prematurity may provide insights to the pathogenesis of the disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Autoantibodies / analysis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature, Diseases / diagnosis
  • Infant, Premature, Diseases / etiology*
  • Infant, Premature, Diseases / immunology
  • Myasthenia Gravis / diagnosis
  • Myasthenia Gravis / etiology*
  • Myasthenia Gravis / immunology
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Receptors, Cholinergic / immunology
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Receptors, Cholinergic