Altered Cardiac Autonomic Regulation in Individuals with Myasthenia Gravis—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to determine differences in cardiovascular autonomic parameters between patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and healthy controls (HCs). Two reviewers searched four electronic databases, namely PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and SCOPUS, from database inception to 7 July 2023 for studies investigating cardiovascular autonomic parameters in MG vs. HCs. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed to compute Hedges’ g ± 95% confidence intervals (CI). Out of a total of 2200 records, 8 observational studies with a sample size of 301 patients with MG and 454 HCs were included in the systematic review. Meta-analysis revealed lower values of expiration/inspiration ratio (g = −0.45, I2 = 74.7), baroreflex sensitivity (g = −0.56, 95%CI −0.80, −0.33; I2 = 0.3), percentage of adjacent NN intervals differing by more than 50 ms (g = −1.2, I2 = 82.8), square root of the mean of squared differences between successive beat intervals (g = −1.94, I2 = 95.1), mean of the standard deviations of all NN intervals (g = −0.83, 95%CI −1.37, −0.28; I2 = 55.5), and high frequency of HRV during tilt (g = −0.75, 95%CI −0.11, −0.39; I2 = 0). MG patients vs. HCs had higher systolic blood pressure (g = 0.39; I2 = 56.1), sympathovagal balance at rest/during tilt (LF/HF-RRIsupine, g = 0.44; I2 = 0; LF/HF-RRItilt, g = 0.86; I2 = 0; LF/HFtilt, g = 0.40; I2 = 0). As a group, MG patients have altered cardiac autonomic function, including decreased parasympathetic function, lower baroreflex sensitivity, and higher sympathovagal balance at rest and during orthostatic challenges

Lack of association of the CIITA -168A→G promoter SNP with myasthenia gravis and its role in autoimmunity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The major histocompatibility complex class II transactivator (CIITA) regulates MHC class II gene expression. A promoter SNP -168A→G (rs3087456) has previously been shown to be associated with susceptibility to several immune mediated disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple sclerosis (MS) and myocardial infarction (MI). Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disorder which has previously been shown to be associated with polymorphisms of several autoimmune predisposing genes, including <it>IL-1</it>, <it>PTPN22</it>, <it>TNF-α </it>and the <it>MHC</it>. In order to determine if allelic variants of rs3087456 increase predisposition to MG, we analyzed this SNP in our Swedish cohort of 446 MG patients and 1866 controls.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>No significant association of the SNP with MG was detected, neither in the patient group as a whole, nor in any clinical subgroup. The vast majority of previous replication studies have also not found an association of the SNP with autoimmune disorders.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We thus conclude that previous findings with regard to the role of the <it>CIITA </it>-168A→G SNP in autoimmunity may have to be reconsidered.</p

Genetic Basis of Myocarditis: Myth or Reality?

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Long term outcome after poliomyelitis in different health and social conditions

Objective: To examine and compare the long term outcome after polio in an east European and a west European country with different access to rehabilitation and with different medical and social conditions. Design and Setting: The patients who were acutely hospitalised for polio 1950–54 in the University Hospital in Bergen, Norway and 1958 in the University Hospital in Tartu, Estonia received the mailed questionnaire in the period between January 1998 and December 1998. Patients: Patient files concerning 334 patients hospitalised in Tartu and 243 patients hospitalised in Bergen were obtained; of these 128 Estonian and 148 Norwegian patients were re-examined. Main results: Despite more pronounced disability in the acute stage, significantly more Norwegian patients were working full time and part time in 1998 (p<0.0001) and also through the period 1958–1998. In both countries, 30% of patients had manual work and 18% changed profession during their career. Low income (below 50% of national average) was reported by 73% of Estonian and 35% of Norwegian patients (p<0.0001). Except for the odds ratio for muscular pain of 1.89 (95%CI =1.14 to 3.14) for Norwegian patients, new symptoms indicating late progression did not differ. Norwegian patients were more independent with significantly less need for assistance in housekeeping (p=0.02), whereas the use of orthopaedic devices did not differ. Conclusions: The long term outcome after polio is different in eastern and western Europe. Access to continuous rehabilitation seems to maintain physical independence in polio patients, improves their ability to earn their own income, and lessens the need for disability pensions