Sensitivity of Acetylcholine Receptor Antibody in the Diagnosis of Ocular Myasthenia Gravis

Acetylcholine receptor (AChR) binding antibodies are present in approximately 80% of patients with generalized myasthenia gravis (MG), but in only 55% of patients with ocular MG. More than 50% of patients with ocular MG typically develop a generalized form within 2 years. The objective of this retrospective, observational study was to test the hypothesis that serum AChR-binding antibody testing is more sensitive in the diagnosis of ocular MG than previously reported and to determine the association between AChR antibody levels and progression from OMG to generalized myasthenia gravis.

A cohort of 223 patients with OMG was identified at two academic medical centers over a 27-year period, 84 (37.7%) of whom were female; mean age at diagnosis w…