TY - JOUR
T1 - A comprehensive analysis of the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of anti-LRP4 in myasthenia gravis
AU - Zisimopoulou, P.
AU - Evangelakou, P.
AU - Tzartos, J.
AU - Lazaridis, K.
AU - Zouvelou, V.
AU - Mantegazza, R.
AU - Antozzi, C.
AU - Andreetta, F.
AU - Evoli, A.
AU - Deymeer, F.
AU - Saruhan-Direskeneli, G.
AU - Durmus, H.
AU - Brenner, T.
AU - Vaknin, A.
AU - Berrih-Aknin, S.
AU - Cuvelier, M. Frenkian
AU - Stojkovic, T.
AU - DeBaets, M.
AU - Losen, M.
AU - Martinez-Martinez, P.
AU - Kleopa, K. A.
AU - Zamba-Papanicolaou, E.
AU - Kyriakides, T.
AU - Kostera-Pruszczyk, A.
AU - Szczudlik, P.
AU - Szyluk, B.
AU - Lavrnic, D.
AU - Basta, I.
AU - Peric, S.
AU - Tallaksen, C.
AU - Maniaol, A.
AU - Tzartos, S. J.
PY - 2014/8
Y1 - 2014/8
N2 - Double-seronegative myasthenia gravis (dSN-MG, without detectable AChR and MuSK antibodies) presents a serious gap in MG diagnosis and understanding. Recently, autoantibodies against the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 (LRP4) have been identified in several dSN-MG sera, but with dramatic frequency variation (similar to 2-50%). We have developed a cell based assay (CBA) based on human LRP4 expressing HEK293 cells, for the reliable and efficient detection of LRP4 antibodies. We have screened about 800 MG patient sera from 10 countries for LRP4 antibodies. The overall frequency of LRP4-MG in the dSN-MG group (635 patients) was 18.7% but with variations among different populations (range 7-32.7%). Interestingly, we also identified double positive sera: 8/107 anti-AChR positive and 10/ 67 anti-MuSK positive sera also had detectable LRP4 antibodies, predominantly originating from only two of the participating groups. No LRP4 antibodies were identified in sera from 56 healthy controls tested, while 4/110 from patients with other neuroimmune diseases were positive. The clinical data, when available, for the LRP4-MG patients were then studied. At disease onset symptoms were mild (81% had MGFA grade I or II), with some identified thymic changes (32% hyperplasia, none with thymoma). On the other hand, double positive patients (AChR/LRP4-MG and MuSK/LRP4-MG) had more severe symptoms at onset compared with any single positive MG subgroup. Contrary to MuSK-MG, 27% of ocular dSN-MG patients were LRP4 antibody positive. Similarly, contrary to MuSK antibodies, which are predominantly of the IgG4 subtype, LRP4 antibodies were predominantly of the IgG1 and IgG2 subtypes. The prevalence was higher in women than in men (female/male ratio 2.5/1), with an average disease onset at ages 33.4 for females and 41.9 for males. Overall, the response of LRP4-MG patients to treatment was similar to published responses of AChR-MG rather than to MuSK-MG patients.
AB - Double-seronegative myasthenia gravis (dSN-MG, without detectable AChR and MuSK antibodies) presents a serious gap in MG diagnosis and understanding. Recently, autoantibodies against the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 (LRP4) have been identified in several dSN-MG sera, but with dramatic frequency variation (similar to 2-50%). We have developed a cell based assay (CBA) based on human LRP4 expressing HEK293 cells, for the reliable and efficient detection of LRP4 antibodies. We have screened about 800 MG patient sera from 10 countries for LRP4 antibodies. The overall frequency of LRP4-MG in the dSN-MG group (635 patients) was 18.7% but with variations among different populations (range 7-32.7%). Interestingly, we also identified double positive sera: 8/107 anti-AChR positive and 10/ 67 anti-MuSK positive sera also had detectable LRP4 antibodies, predominantly originating from only two of the participating groups. No LRP4 antibodies were identified in sera from 56 healthy controls tested, while 4/110 from patients with other neuroimmune diseases were positive. The clinical data, when available, for the LRP4-MG patients were then studied. At disease onset symptoms were mild (81% had MGFA grade I or II), with some identified thymic changes (32% hyperplasia, none with thymoma). On the other hand, double positive patients (AChR/LRP4-MG and MuSK/LRP4-MG) had more severe symptoms at onset compared with any single positive MG subgroup. Contrary to MuSK-MG, 27% of ocular dSN-MG patients were LRP4 antibody positive. Similarly, contrary to MuSK antibodies, which are predominantly of the IgG4 subtype, LRP4 antibodies were predominantly of the IgG1 and IgG2 subtypes. The prevalence was higher in women than in men (female/male ratio 2.5/1), with an average disease onset at ages 33.4 for females and 41.9 for males. Overall, the response of LRP4-MG patients to treatment was similar to published responses of AChR-MG rather than to MuSK-MG patients.
KW - Myasthenia gravis
KW - LRP4
KW - Autoantibodies Cell based assay
KW - Diagnosis
KW - Therapy
U2 - 10.1016/j.jaut.2013.12.004
DO - 10.1016/j.jaut.2013.12.004
M3 - Article
C2 - 24373505
SN - 0896-8411
VL - 52
SP - 139
EP - 145
JO - Journal of Autoimmunity
JF - Journal of Autoimmunity
ER -