The clinical need for clustered AChR cell-based assay testing of seronegative MG

J Neuroimmunol. 2022 Jun 15:367:577850. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2022.577850. Epub 2022 Mar 25.

Abstract

Trial eligibility in myasthenia gravis (MG) remains largely dependent on a positive autoantibody serostatus. This significantly hinders seronegative MG (SNMG) patients from receiving potentially beneficial new treatments. In a subset of SNMG patients, acetylcholine receptor (AChR) autoantibodies are detectable by a clustered AChR cell-based assay (CBA). Of 99 SNMG patients from two academic U.S. centers, 18 (18.2%) tested positive by this assay. Autoantibody positivity was further validated in 17/18 patients. In a complementary experiment, circulating AChR-specific B cells were identified in a CBA-positive SNMG patient. These findings corroborate the clinical need for clustered AChR CBA testing when evaluating SNMG patients.

Keywords: Autoantibodies; Cell-based assay; Myasthenia gravis; Seronegative.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Autoantibodies
  • Biological Assay
  • Humans
  • Myasthenia Gravis* / diagnosis
  • Myasthenia Gravis* / drug therapy
  • Receptors, Cholinergic*

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Receptors, Cholinergic