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McKeon A, Pittock SJ. Overview and Diagnostic Approach in Autoimmune Neurology. Continuum (Minneap Minn) 2024; 30:960-994. [PMID: 39088285 DOI: 10.1212/con.0000000000001447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/03/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The field of autoimmune neurology is rapidly evolving. This article reviews the epidemiology and pathophysiology as well as current approaches to clinical and paraclinical assessment, testing paradigms, and general principles of treatment. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Improved recognition of autoimmune diagnoses among patients who have phenotypically diverse, subacute onset neurologic presentations is facilitated by disease-specific antibody biomarker discovery. These antibodies have varying associations with paraneoplastic causation (from no association to greater than 70% positive predictive value), immunotherapy responses, and outcomes. To simplify assessment in an increasingly complex discipline, neurologic phenotype-specific serum and CSF antibody evaluations are recommended. Clinical trials have led to the approval of monoclonal therapies for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and are underway for N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor and leucine-rich glioma inactivated protein 1 (LGI1) encephalitides. ESSENTIAL POINTS Autoimmune neurology is now a mainstream subspecialty, consisting of disorders with diverse presentations detectable using antibody testing of serum and CSF. Early and sustained immunotherapy (eg, corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin [IVIg], plasma exchange) is recommended and may be supplemented by immune suppressants (eg, rituximab or cyclophosphamide) to sustain responses and optimize outcomes.
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Meng DD, Ruan Z, Tang YL, Ji ZH, Su Y, Xu T, Cui BZ, Ren DL, Chang T, Yang Q. Factors associated with the disease family burden of caregivers of myasthenia gravis patients in northwestern China: A cross-sectional study. J Clin Neurosci 2024; 119:70-75. [PMID: 37988975 DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2023.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) lose part of their working or living ability due to illness, and bring burden to caregivers. The purpose of this study was to explore the factors related to caregivers' disease family burden for MG patients in Northwest China. METHODS The study utilized our Myasthenia Gravis database and distributed online questionnaires to both MG patients and their caregivers. The questionnaires included a general data collection form, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale, and the Caregivers' Family Burden Scale of Disease (FBSD). Univariate analysis and multivariate linear regression analysis were run, with FBSD as the outcome variable for separate analyses. RESULTS 178 MG patients were eligible for inclusion in the analysis, of whom 80 patients' caregivers had a positive family burden of MG. The daily activity burden of the family and the economic burden of the family were the heaviest among the six dimensions of the caregivers' family disease burdens. The factors independently associated with FBSD were depression symptom level, MG severity classification and family's monthly per capita income (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Depression symptom level, MG severity classification and family's monthly per capita income are independent factors related to the caregivers' disease family burden for MG patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Dong Meng
- Department of Experimental Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038, Shaanxi Province, China.
| | - Zhe Ruan
- Department of Neurology, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038, Shaanxi Province, China.
| | - Yong-Lan Tang
- Department of Neurology, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038, Shaanxi Province, China.
| | - Zhao-Hua Ji
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an 710032, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Yue Su
- Department of Neurology, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Tuo Xu
- Department of Experimental Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Bo-Zhou Cui
- Department of Experimental Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Da-Lin Ren
- Department of Experimental Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Ting Chang
- Department of Neurology, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038, Shaanxi Province, China.
| | - Qian Yang
- Department of Experimental Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038, Shaanxi Province, China.
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Niazi SK. Anti-Idiotypic mRNA Vaccine to Treat Autoimmune Disorders. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 12:9. [PMID: 38276668 PMCID: PMC10819008 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12010009] [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: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The 80+ existing autoimmune disorders (ADs) affect billions with little prevention or treatment options, except for temporary symptomatic management, leading to enormous human suffering and a monumental financial burden. The autoantibodies formed in most ADs have been identified, allowing the development of novel anti-idiotypic antibodies to mute the autoantibodies using vaccines. Nucleoside vaccines have been successfully tested as antigen-specific immunotherapies (ASI), with mRNA technology offering multi-epitope targeting to mute multiple autoantibodies. This paper proposes using mRNA technology to produce anti-idiotypic antibodies with broad effectiveness in preventing and treating them. This paper delves into the state-of-the-art mRNA design strategies used to develop novel ASIs by selecting appropriate T cell and B cell epitopes to generate anti-idiotypic antibodies. The low cost and fast development of mRNA vaccines make this technology the most affordable for the global control of ADs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarfaraz K Niazi
- College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60012, USA
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Paardekooper LM, Fillié-Grijpma YE, van der Sluijs-Gelling AJ, Zlei M, van Doorn R, Vermeer MH, Paunovic M, Titulaer MJ, van der Maarel SM, van Dongen JJM, Verschuuren JJ, Huijbers MG. Autoantibody subclass predominance is not driven by aberrant class switching or impaired B cell development. Clin Immunol 2023; 257:109817. [PMID: 37925120 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2023.109817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
A subset of autoimmune diseases is characterized by predominant pathogenic IgG4 autoantibodies (IgG4-AID). Why IgG4 predominates in these disorders is unknown. We hypothesized that dysregulated B cell maturation or aberrant class switching causes overrepresentation of IgG4+ B cells and plasma cells. Therefore, we compared the B cell compartment of patients from four different IgG4-AID with two IgG1-3-AID and healthy donors, using flow cytometry. Relative subset abundance at all maturation stages was normal, except for a, possibly treatment-related, reduction in immature and naïve CD5+ cells. IgG4+ B cell and plasma cell numbers were normal in IgG4-AID patients, however they had a (sub)class-independent 8-fold increase in circulating CD20-CD138+ cells. No autoreactivity was found in this subset. These results argue against aberrant B cell development and rather suggest the autoantibody subclass predominance to be antigen-driven. The similarities between IgG4-AID suggest that, despite displaying variable clinical phenotypes, they share a similar underlying immune profile.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Mihaela Zlei
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Remco van Doorn
- Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten H Vermeer
- Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Manuela Paunovic
- Department of Neurology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten J Titulaer
- Department of Neurology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Jacques J M van Dongen
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; Centro de Investigación del Cáncer-Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (CIC-IBMCC, USAL-CSIC-FICUS) and Department of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Jan J Verschuuren
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Maartje G Huijbers
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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Chien CY, Chang CW, Liao MF, Chu CC, Ro LS, Wu YR, Chang KH, Chen CM, Kuo HC. Myasthenia gravis and independent risk factors for recurrent infection: a retrospective cohort study. BMC Neurol 2023; 23:255. [PMID: 37400755 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-023-03306-3] [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: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Approximately 10% to 20% of myasthenia gravis (MG) patients have experienced a myasthenic crisis (MC), which contributes to morbidity and mortality. MC triggered by infection is associated with poor outcomes. However, there is a lack of prognostic factors that clinicians can utilize to target interventions for preventing recurrent infection-triggered MC. This study aimed to characterize clinical manifestations, comorbidities, and biochemical profiles associated with recurrent infection-triggered MC in MG patients. METHODS This retrospective study included 272 MG patients hospitalized with an infection requiring at least 3 days of antibiotics from January 2001 to December 2019. Patients were further stratified into non-recurrent or recurrent infection groups. Clinical features such as gender, age, concomitant diseases, acetylcholine receptor antibodies and biochemical data (including electrolytes and coagulants), muscle strength of pelvic and shoulder girdle, bulbar and respiratory function, management with an endotracheal tube, Foley catheter, or plasmapheresis, duration of hospitalization, and culture pathogens were recorded. RESULTS The recurrent infection group was significantly older than the non-recurrent group (median age, 58.5 versus 52.0 years). Pneumonia was the most common infection and Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most common pathogen. The presence of concomitant diabetes mellitus, activated partial thromboplastin time prolongation, the duration of hospitalization, and hypomagnesaemia were independently associated with recurrent infection. The presence of deep vein thrombosis, thymic cancer, and electrolyte imbalances i.e., hypokalemia, and hypoalbuminemia were significantly associated with a risk for infection. The influence of endotracheal intubation, anemia, and plasmapheresis during hospitalization were inconsistent. CONCLUSIONS The independent risk factors for recurrent infections in MG patients identified in this study include the presence of concomitant diabetes mellitus, hypomagnesaemia, activated partial thromboplastin time prolongation, and longer duration of hospitalization, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to prevent recurrent infections in this population. Further research and prospective studies are warranted to validate these findings and refine interventions for optimizing patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Yin Chien
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Centre, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Wei Chang
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Centre, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Feng Liao
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Centre, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Che Chu
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Centre, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Long-Sun Ro
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Centre, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Yih-Ru Wu
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Centre, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Kuo-Hsuan Chang
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Centre, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chiung-Mei Chen
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Centre, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Chou Kuo
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou Medical Centre, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital & Chang Gung University, No. 5, Fuxing St, Guishan Dist, Taoyuan City, 333423, Taiwan.
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