Myasthenia gravis in monozygotic twins. Clinical follow-up nine years after thymectomy. 1984

N Allen, and P Kissel, and D Pietrasiuk, and M J Perlow

Genetically proved monozygotic female twins in whom myasthenia gravis developed in their 20s initially had their disease well controlled with anticholinesterase medication. Because of increasing resistance to medication, twin 1 had her thymus removed, after which the symptoms decreased. Predicated on the improvement in her sister and the need for increasing medication to allay symptoms, and after proof of monozygosity, twin 2 also underwent thymectomy, with subsequent symptomatic improvement. The twins were followed up nine and six years after thymectomy, respectively. Monozygotic twins with myasthenia gravis are generally young women, with onset of disease in one occurring within one to three years of the other. Reports of only one affected twin may be misleading because of inadequate documentation of monozygosity, absence of long-term observation, or both. Serial investigations of the "uninvolved" twin in a monozygous pair and proof of monozygosity should be obtained to aid in early diagnosis and treatment of this illness, as well as to study the pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis prior to symptom onset.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009157 Myasthenia Gravis A disorder of neuromuscular transmission characterized by fatigable weakness of cranial and skeletal muscles with elevated titers of ACETYLCHOLINE RECEPTORS or muscle-specific receptor tyrosine kinase (MuSK) autoantibodies. Clinical manifestations may include ocular muscle weakness (fluctuating, asymmetric, external ophthalmoplegia; diplopia; ptosis; and weakness of eye closure) and extraocular fatigable weakness of facial, bulbar, respiratory, and proximal limb muscles. The disease may remain limited to the ocular muscles (ocular myasthenia). THYMOMA is commonly associated with this condition. Anti-MuSK Myasthenia Gravis,MuSK MG,MuSK Myasthenia Gravis,Muscle-Specific Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Myasthenia Gravis,Muscle-Specific Tyrosine Kinase Antibody Positive Myasthenia Gravis,Myasthenia Gravis, Generalized,Myasthenia Gravis, Ocular,Anti MuSK Myasthenia Gravis,Generalized Myasthenia Gravis,Muscle Specific Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Myasthenia Gravis,Muscle Specific Tyrosine Kinase Antibody Positive Myasthenia Gravis,Myasthenia Gravis, Anti-MuSK,Myasthenia Gravis, MuSK,Ocular Myasthenia Gravis
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D004200 Diseases in Twins Disorders affecting TWINS, one or both, at any age. Diseases in Twin,Twin, Diseases in,Twins, Diseases in,in Twin, Diseases,in Twins, Diseases
D005260 Female Females
D005500 Follow-Up Studies Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease. Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D013934 Thymectomy Surgical removal of the thymus gland. (Dorland, 28th ed) Thymectomies
D014430 Twins, Monozygotic Two off-spring from the same PREGNANCY. They are from a single fertilized OVUM that split into two EMBRYOS. Such twins are usually genetically identical and of the same sex. Twins, Identical,Identical Twin,Identical Twins,Monozygotic Twin,Monozygotic Twins,Twin, Identical,Twin, Monozygotic

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