Diagnosis and Management of Seronegative Myasthenia Gravis: Lights and Shadows

Abstract

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an antibody-mediated neuromuscular disease affecting the neuromuscular junction. In most cases, autoantibodies can be detected in the sera of MG patients, thus aiding in diagnosis and allowing for early screening. However, there is a small proportion of patients who have no detectable auto-antibodies, a condition termed “seronegative MG” (SnMG). Several factors contribute to this, including laboratory test inaccuracies, decreased antibody production, immunosuppressive therapy, immunodeficiencies, antigen depletion, and immune-senescence. The diagnosis of SnMG is more challenging and is based on clinical features and neurophysiological tests. The early identification of these patients is needed in order to ensure early treatment and prevent complications. This narrative review aims to examine the latest updates on SnMG, defining the clinical characteristics of affected patients, diagnostic methods, management, and therapeutic scenarios.

Keywords

• myasthenia gravis
• antibodies
• acetylcholine receptor (AChR)
• muscle-specific tyrosine kinases antibodies (MuSKs)
• low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 (LRP4)
• neuromuscular junction