[Pubmed] Longitudinal dynamics and clinical significance of acetylcholine receptor blocking antibodies in myasthenia gra

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Neurol Sci. 2026 Sep 25;47(10):809. doi: 10.1007/s10072-026-09423-4.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the longitudinal clinical relevance of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) blocking antibodies in myasthenia gravis (MG).

METHODS: We prospectively studied 47 AChR-positive MG patients with 121 serial antibody measurements over a mean follow-up of 2.8 years. AChR-binding antibodies were measured by a conventional radioimmunoprecipitation assay, whereas AChR-blocking activity was measured using a competitive radioimmunoassay. Disease severity was assessed using Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) classification. Longitudinal associations were analyzed using generalized estimating equations (GEE).

RESULTS: Blocking antibodies (> 20% inhibition) were associated with MGFA severity across repeated observations in longitudinal GEE analysis (β = 0.045, p < 0.001), whereas binding antibodies were not significant. Among 13 patients with ocular-onset MG, all 8 who progressed to generalized disease were blocking antibody-positive, while none of the 5 patients who remained ocular tested positive. Blocking antibodies were detected in 90.5% of generalized MG patients, whereas all persistently ocular patients were negative.

CONCLUSIONS: AChR blocking antibodies are associated with MG disease severity over time and may help identify ocular MG patients at risk of generalization, supporting their potential clinical relevance in MG.

PMID:42786377 | DOI:10.1007/s10072-026-09423-4


Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4278637 ... 4&v=2.20.1