Neonatal Outcome in Pregnancies with Autoimmune Myasthenia Gravis

Fetal Pediatr Pathol. 2016;35(3):167-72. doi: 10.3109/15513815.2016.1164773. Epub 2016 Apr 21.

Abstract

Introduction: Acquired autoimmune myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune process in which antibodies (AB) directed against the acetylcholine nicotinic receptor (AChR) cause weakness and fatigue of striated muscles.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the range of clinical manifestations in newborns with transient neonatal myasthenia (TNM).

Methods: 62 newborns with mothers who had autoimmune MG were followed by: anthropometric parameters, gestational age, gender, type of delivery completion, Apgar score (AS) in the first and fifth minute, and the emergence of TNM symptoms.

Results: For fourteen consecutive years, from a total of 98,000 infants, 62 (0.06%) were born to mothers with autoimmune MG. Four of them (6.4%) had symptoms of TNM.

Conclusion: Newborns of mothers with MG manifest clinical features of TNM relative to stage of mother's illness. These newborns need monitoring until the seventh day of life.

Keywords: autoimmune myasthenia gravis; newborn; pregnancy.

MeSH terms

  • Apgar Score
  • Autoantibodies / immunology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Mothers
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology*
  • Myasthenia Gravis / complications
  • Myasthenia Gravis / diagnosis
  • Myasthenia Gravis / pathology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / diagnosis
  • Pregnancy Complications / pathology*

Substances

  • Autoantibodies