Myasthenia gravis - In-depth characterization of antibody-specific pathomechanisms and identification of novel autoantibodies.

Recruiting

Conditions: G70.0
Myasthenia gravis

Registration Number: DRKS00025711

Lead Sponsor: Klinik für Neurologie, Charité- Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Brief Summary: Not available

Detailed Description: Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: Recruiting

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 150

Inclusion Criteria

Patient capable of written informed consent
- Adult patients

MG patients:
- Seronegative MG patients for whom an intercostal muscle biopsy is planned within standard care (i.e. in case of diagnostic uncertainty or in case of therapy refractory disease course to assess the possibility of a targeted complement inhibition)
- AchR-Ak-positive MG patients for whom thymectomy is planned as part of standard care (positive controls”).

Participants of the control group (negative controls”):
- Patients for whom a thoracoscopy/thoracotomy is planned for a non-myasthenic indication (e.g. traumatic injuries)

Exclusion Criteria

Participants in the control group (negative controls):
- Known rheumatic or tumor diseases

Study & Design

Study Type: observational

Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
The study will demonstrate that specific immunological pathomechanisms can be identified depending on the autoantibody status in MG patients.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Furthermore, it will be investigated whether<br>1) Autoantibody-specific changes of the neuromuscular endplate can be shown by ultrastructural analysis (electron microscopy)<br>2) Previously unknown changes in the neuromuscular endplate in MG patients can be detected using novel array tomography (3D electron microscopy) and nanotomy (large-scale digitization for 2D electron microscopy) <br>3) New autoantibodies against postsynaptic structures of the neuromuscular endplate can be identified in the blood and/or plasma products of seronegative MG patients using indirect immunofluorescence tests (IIFT) and mass spectroscopy.<br>