Childhood-onset myasthenia gravis

Abstract

  The pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis has been largely elucidated over the past half century, and its treatment methods have advanced. There are fewer cases of childhood-onset myasthenia than adult-onset myasthenia; therefore, it is desirable to study the pathogenesis and treatment methods that account for the unique growth and development of children.

  Epidemiological studies conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare have shown that according to the age of onset, the number of Japanese patients with myasthenia gravis in Japan differs from that of Caucasian patients in Europe and the United States; these studies also show that myasthenia gravis is more frequent in early childhood. Recently, myasthenia gravis has been reported globally. The pattern of the number of patients according to the age of onset differs between East Asia and Western Europe, confirming that the pattern in Japan is common to East Asia. Furthermore, there are racial differences in autoimmune myasthenia and congenital myasthenic syndromes, and the pathogenesis and relationship between them are gradually becoming clearer. It has also become clear that there is some variation in the choice of treatment methods depending on the region. In this paper, we will introduce the recent findings in myasthenia gravis, focusing on the differences in its pathogenesis.