RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Epidemiology of myasthenia gravis with anti-muscle specific kinase antibodies in the Netherlands
JF Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
JO J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 417
OP 418
DO 10.1136/jnnp.2006.102517
VO 78
IS 4
A1 Erik H Niks
A1 Jan B M Kuks
A1 Jan J G M Verschuuren
YR 2007
UL http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/78/4/417.abstract
AB The epidemiology of myasthenia gravis subtypes and the frequency of antibodies to muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) was studied in patients with generalised myasthenia gravis without anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies who had an onset of symptoms between 1990 and 2004 in a well-defined region in the Netherlands. The nationwide prevalence and incidence of myasthenia gravis with anti-MuSK antibodies were also studied. MuSK antibodies were found in 22% of patients with generalised myasthenia gravis without anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies. Nationwide, 35 patients with MuSK myasthenia gravis were identified, yielding a prevalence of 1.9 per million (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.22 to 2.59) and an annual incidence 0.10 per million person-years (95% CI 0.06 to 0.14).