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Hoffmann S, Verlohren S, Herdick M. [Myasthenia gravis-Gender aspects and family planning]. DER NERVENARZT 2024; 95:316-328. [PMID: 38499774 DOI: 10.1007/s00115-024-01640-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is evidence that gender-specific differences can influence the diagnostics, treatment and long-term disease course of myasthenia gravis (MG). In women the diagnosis is often made during childbearing age. OBJECTIVE Gender-specific differences in MG and relevant aspects in routine clinical practice are presented. In addition, current studies on family planning, pregnancy and childbirth in MG are highlighted and treatment recommendations are derived. MATERIAL AND METHODS Narrative literature review. RESULTS In addition to sociodemographic data, gender-specific differences encompass clinical as well as paraclinical factors, such as disease severity and antibody status. With few exceptions pregnancy is possible with good maternal and neonatal outcome. During pregnancy and peripartum, children of MG patients should be closely monitored for early detection and treatment of potential syndromes caused by diaplacental transfer of maternal antibodies. CONCLUSION Gender-specific factors can influence the course of MG. Adequate medical counselling and multidisciplinary collaboration are essential for MG patients who wish to have children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Hoffmann
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Clinical Research Center (NCRC) and Integrated Myasthenia Gravis Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Deutschland.
| | - Stefan Verlohren
- Department of Obstetrics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Deutschland
| | - Meret Herdick
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Clinical Research Center (NCRC) and Integrated Myasthenia Gravis Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Deutschland
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Octaviana F, Safri AY, Wiratman W, Indrawati LA, Fadli N, Hakim M. Pulmonary Function Assessment in Myasthenia Gravis Patients in a National Referral Hospital in Indonesia. Int J Gen Med 2023; 16:4477-4483. [PMID: 37808209 PMCID: PMC10559783 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s426321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Myasthenia gravis (MG) can cause respiratory muscle weakness and the need of ventilator support. Spirometry as the gold standard for pulmonary function examination has limited availability, especially in our hospital which is only available in outpatient clinic during work hours (not in emergency room or patient room). Furthermore, all primary healthcare in Indonesia do not have spirometry equipment, thus other alternatives are required. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between a single breath counting test (SBCT), peak flow meter (PFM), and spirometry to assess pulmonary function in MG patients in a national referral hospital in Indonesia. Patients and Methods A single-center, cross-sectional study was conducted and SBCT, PFM, and spirometry examination were performed in MG patients and healthy controls. Results Seventy patients, aged 47.7 ± 13.4 years old, participated in this study. SBCT, forced vital capacity first second (FVC1), and forced expiratory volume first second (FEV1) value between MG patients and healthy controls showed a significant difference, in which healthy controls have higher SBCT, FVC1, and FEV1 values (p = 0.000, p = 0.000 and p = 0.001 respectively). There was a significant difference between PFM with SBCT and FVC1 value in MG patients. Strong correlation was found between SBCT and FVC1 in MG patients. Conclusion MG patients had worse pulmonary function compared to healthy controls. SBCT and PFM examination have a significant correlation with FVC1 in MG patients. Therefore, SBCT and PFM can be used as a bedside tool to detect respiratory impairment in MG patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fitri Octaviana
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
- Department of Neurology, Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Ahmad Yanuar Safri
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
- Department of Neurology, Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Winnugroho Wiratman
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
- Department of Neurology, Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia
- Universitas Indonesia Hospital, Depok, Indonesia
| | - Luh Ari Indrawati
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
- Department of Neurology, Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Nurul Fadli
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
- Universitas Indonesia Hospital, Depok, Indonesia
| | - Manfaluthy Hakim
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
- Department of Neurology, Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia
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Vinciguerra C, Iacono S, Bevilacqua L, Landolfi A, Piscosquito G, Ginanneschi F, Schirò G, Di Stefano V, Brighina F, Barone P, Balistreri CR. Sex differences in neuromuscular disorders. Mech Ageing Dev 2023; 211:111793. [PMID: 36806604 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2023.111793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence, onset, pathophysiology, and clinical course of many neuromuscular disorders (NMDs) may significantly differ between males and females. Some NMDs are more frequently observed in females, and characterized to show a higher grade of severity during or after the pregnancy. Meanwhile, others tend to have an earlier onset in males and exhibit a more variable progression. Prevalently, sex differences in NMDs have a familiar character given from genetic inheritance. However, they may also influence clinical presentation and disease severity of acquired NMD forms, and are represented by both hormonal and genetic factors. Consequently, to shed light on the distinctive role of biological factors in the different clinical phenotypes, we summarize in this review the sex related differences and their distinctive biological roles emerging from the current literature in both acquired and inherited NMDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Vinciguerra
- Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, 84131 Salerno, Italy.
| | - Salvatore Iacono
- Neurology Unit, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Liliana Bevilacqua
- Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, 84131 Salerno, Italy
| | - Annamaria Landolfi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, 84131 Salerno, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Piscosquito
- Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, 84131 Salerno, Italy
| | - Federica Ginanneschi
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Schirò
- Neurology Unit, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Di Stefano
- Neurology Unit, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Filippo Brighina
- Neurology Unit, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Paolo Barone
- Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, 84131 Salerno, Italy
| | - Carmela Rita Balistreri
- Cellular and Molecular Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo
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Dodd KC, Menon M. Sex bias in lymphocytes: Implications for autoimmune diseases. Front Immunol 2022; 13:945762. [PMID: 36505451 PMCID: PMC9730535 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.945762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune diseases are characterized by a significant sex dimorphism, with women showing increased susceptibility to disease. This is, at least in part, due to sex-dependent differences in the immune system that are influenced by the complex interplay between sex hormones and sex chromosomes, with contribution from sociological factors, diet and gut microbiota. Sex differences are evident in the number and function of lymphocyte populations. Women mount a stronger pro-inflammatory response than males, with increased lymphocyte proliferation, activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production, whereas men display expanded regulatory cell subsets. Ageing alters the immune landscape of men and women in differing ways, resulting in changes in autoimmune disease susceptibility. Here we review the current literature on sex differences in lymphocyte function, the factors that influence this, and the implications for autoimmune disease. We propose that improved understanding of sex bias in lymphocyte function can provide sex-specific tailoring of treatment strategies for better management of autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine C. Dodd
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Division of Immunology, Immunity to Infection and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom,Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences, Salford Royal Hospital, Salford, United Kingdom
| | - Madhvi Menon
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Division of Immunology, Immunity to Infection and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom,*Correspondence: Madhvi Menon,
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Chen K, Li Y, Yang H. Poor responses and adverse outcomes of myasthenia gravis after thymectomy: Predicting factors and immunological implications. J Autoimmun 2022; 132:102895. [PMID: 36041292 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2022.102895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Myasthenia gravis (MG) has been recognized as a series of heterogeneous but treatable autoimmune conditions. As one of the indispensable therapies, thymectomy can achieve favorable prognosis especially in early-onset generalized MG patients with seropositive acetylcholine receptor antibody. However, poor outcomes, including worsening or relapse of MG, postoperative myasthenic crisis and even post-thymectomy MG, are also observed in certain scenarios. The responses to thymectomy may be associated with the general characteristics of patients, disease conditions of MG, autoantibody profiles, native or ectopic thymic pathologies, surgical-related factors, pharmacotherapy and other adjuvant modalities, and the presence of comorbidities and complications. However, in addition to these variations among individuals, pathological remnants and the abnormal immunological milieu and responses potentially represent major mechanisms that underlie the detrimental neurological outcomes after thymectomy. We underscore these plausible risk factors and discuss the immunological implications therein, which may be conducive to better managing the indications for thymectomy, to avoiding modifiable risk factors of poor responses and adverse outcomes, and to developing post-thymectomy preventive and therapeutic strategies for MG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangzhi Chen
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yi Li
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Huan Yang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
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Belimezi M, Kalliaropoulos A, Jiménez J, Garcia I, Mentis AFA, Chrousos GP. Age at sampling and sex distribution of AChRAb vs. MuSKAb myasthenia gravis in a large Greek population. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2021; 208:106847. [PMID: 34343914 DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2021.106847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a typical B-cell-mediated neuromuscular junction disease that can be classified into seropositive and seronegative subtypes. Association of patients' age at sampling and sex with the two major seropositive MG subcategories, i.e., MGs linked to antibodies directed against the acetylcholine receptor (AChRAb) and against the muscle-specific kinase (MuSKAb), has not been compared in a large population. METHODS We performed a retrospective analysis of samples from patients with MG in Greece who underwent neurochemical diagnostic evaluation between January 2, 2013, and August 31, 2016. RESULTS Overall, 1620 adult (623 male and 997 female patients; male-to-female ratio = 0.62) and 51 pediatric patients were found to be seropositive for MG. The distributions in both male and female patients were bimodal in the total and AChRAb MG cases but not in the total MuSKAb MG cases. Significant differences in the age at sampling distribution between the male and female adult patients were observed only in the AChRAb MG subtype. Significant differences between the AChRAb and MuSKAb MG categories were noted in the mean age values (60.10 and 51.49 years, respectively, for female and 65.69 and 56.19 years, respectively, for male adult patients). CONCLUSION Our findings confirm an uneven profile of age at sampling and sex between the AChRAb and MuSKAb MG cases in a large population. Future mechanistic studies can elucidate the cause of these differences. Moreover, clinical studies can explore how such differences can affect MG treatment and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Belimezi
- Diagnostic Services Laboratory, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Juan Jiménez
- ADEMA Universitary School, University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - Irene Garcia
- Department of Mathematical Sciences and Informatics, and Health Research Institute (IdISBa), University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - Alexios-Fotios A Mentis
- Diagnostic Services Laboratory, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece; University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health and Precision Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Levadias, Athens, Greece.
| | - George P Chrousos
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health and Precision Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Levadias, Athens, Greece
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Werbinski JL, Rojek MK, Cabral MDI. The Need to Integrate Sex and Gender Differences into Pediatric Pedagogy. Adv Pediatr 2019; 66:15-35. [PMID: 31230691 DOI: 10.1016/j.yapd.2019.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Janice L Werbinski
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine, 1000 Oakland Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-1284, USA.
| | - Mary K Rojek
- Sex and Gender Health Collaborative, American Medical Women's Association, 1100 Woodfield Rd. #350, Schaumburg, IL 60173, USA
| | - Maria Demma I Cabral
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine, 1000 Oakland Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-1284, USA
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