Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with positive anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies. Case report and review of the literature

J Clin Neuromuscul Dis. 2012 Dec;14(2):82-5. doi: 10.1097/CND.0b013e31824db163.

Abstract

Myasthenia gravis is a nerve-muscle junction disease, for which the most specific test is an increase in the anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies (anti-AChR-Abs) titer. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease affecting both upper and lower motor neurons. Positive AChR-Ab in patients with pure ALS are exceedingly rare. We report the case of a patient with confirmed ALS and very high levels of AChR-Ab and review the literature on this topic.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / diagnosis*
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / immunology*
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / physiopathology
  • Autoantibodies / immunology*
  • Electromyography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
  • Neural Conduction / physiology
  • Receptors, Cholinergic / immunology*

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Receptors, Cholinergic