We propose that general recommendations regarding physical exercise can be applied safely to well-regulated MG patients. Muscle Nerve 56: 207-214, 2017.

Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is an autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by skeletal muscle weakness and fatigability. Reported incidence and prevalence rates of MG vary widely, with reported yearly incidence rates ranging from 0.2 to 3 per 100,000 inhabitants and prevalence rates ranging from 1.5 to 24 per 100,000 inhab

Our findings further strengthen the role of MET PET as an important prognostic tool in the management of this group of patients.

This study describes specific patterns of elevated inflammatory proteins in clinical subtypes of myasthenia gravis (MG) patients. MG is a chronic, autoimmune neuromuscular disease with antibodies most commonly targeting the acetylcholine receptors (AChRab), which causes fluctuating skeletal muscle fatigue. MG pathophysiology includes a strong component of inflammation, and a large proportion of patients with early onset MG additionally present thymus hyperplasia. Due to the fluctuating nature and heterogeneity of the disease, there is a great need for objective biomarkers as well as novel potential inflammatory targets. We examined the sera of 45 MG patients (40 AChRab seropositive and 5 AChRab seronegative), investigating 92 proteins associated with inflammation. Eleven of the analysed proteins were significantly elevated compared to healthy controls, out of which the three most significant were: matrix metalloproteinase 10 (MMP-10; p = 0.0004), transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α; p = 0.0017) and extracellular newly identified receptor for advanced glycation end-products binding protein (EN-RAGE) (also known as protein S100-A12; p = 0.0054). Further, levels of MMP-10, C-X-C motif ligand 1 (CXCL1) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) differed between early and late onset MG. These novel targets provide valuable additional insight into the systemic inflammatory response in MG.