OBJECTIVES: To compare the prevalence of myasthenia gravis (MG) subgroups based on immunological markers and clinical presentation in two geographically complete MG populations in northern Europe. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included all living MG patients in Norway and a regional cohort from the Netherlands. Patients were identified using their hospital registration codes. Medical charts of subjects >16 years were reviewed. Inclusion criteria were clinical MG, a positive antibody test for acetylcholine receptor (AChR MG) or muscle-specific kinase (MuSK MG), or if seronegative MG, confirmed by an electrophysiological test. RESULTS: 1,205 MG patients (534 Norwegians and 671 Dutch) fulfilled the criteria, giving a higher point prevalence in the Netherlands (167/million, 95% CI 155-180) than in Norway (138/million, 95% CI 126-150). In particular, rates of AChR MG (143 vs. 111/million), MuSK MG (6.5 vs. 0.5/million), and ocular phenotype (62 vs. 24/million) were higher in the Netherlands. CONCLUSION: Novel findings are an AChR MG geographical north-south gradient and a 2.6-fold more ocular MG patients in the Netherlands than in Norway. The MuSK MG latitudinal gradient supports the notion of a north-south gradient in Europe, with a higher prevalence in the south. The variation is probably explained by genetic differences between the populations, in addition to environmental interactions.
OBJECTIVES: To compare the prevalence of myasthenia gravis (MG) subgroups based on immunological markers and clinical presentation in two geographically complete MG populations in northern Europe. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included all living MG patients in Norway and a regional cohort from the Netherlands. Patients were identified using their hospital registration codes. Medical charts of subjects >16 years were reviewed. Inclusion criteria were clinical MG, a positive antibody test for acetylcholine receptor (AChR MG) or muscle-specific kinase (MuSK MG), or if seronegative MG, confirmed by an electrophysiological test. RESULTS: 1,205 MG patients (534 Norwegians and 671 Dutch) fulfilled the criteria, giving a higher point prevalence in the Netherlands (167/million, 95% CI 155-180) than in Norway (138/million, 95% CI 126-150). In particular, rates of AChR MG (143 vs. 111/million), MuSK MG (6.5 vs. 0.5/million), and ocular phenotype (62 vs. 24/million) were higher in the Netherlands. CONCLUSION: Novel findings are an AChR MG geographical north-south gradient and a 2.6-fold more ocular MG patients in the Netherlands than in Norway. The MuSK MG latitudinal gradient supports the notion of a north-south gradient in Europe, with a higher prevalence in the south. The variation is probably explained by genetic differences between the populations, in addition to environmental interactions.
Authors: Marion I Boldingh; Angelina H Maniaol; Cathrine Brunborg; Harald Weedon-Fekjær; Jan J G M Verschuuren; Chantal M E Tallaksen Journal: Neurology Date: 2016-10-21 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: M I Boldingh; L Dekker; A H Maniaol; C Brunborg; A F Lipka; E H Niks; J J G M Verschuuren; C M E Tallaksen Journal: Health Qual Life Outcomes Date: 2015-08-01 Impact factor: 3.186
Authors: Heidi Eliana Mateus; Ana María Pérez; Martha Lucía Mesa; Germán Escobar; Jubby Marcela Gálvez; José Ivo Montaño; Martha Lucía Ospina; Paul Laissue Journal: BMC Res Notes Date: 2017-10-26
Authors: Houssein Safa; Daniel H Johnson; Van Anh Trinh; Theresa E Rodgers; Heather Lin; Maria E Suarez-Almazor; Faisal Fa'ak; Chantal Saberian; Cassian Yee; Michael A Davies; Sudhakar Tummala; Karin Woodman; Noha Abdel-Wahab; Adi Diab Journal: J Immunother Cancer Date: 2019-11-21 Impact factor: 13.751