6-thioguanylic-acid and Myasthenia-Gravis

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune neuromuscular disorder characterised by fatigable voluntary skeletal muscle weakness. The underlying pathogenesis is complex involving adaptive autoimmune responses. Azathioprine remains a first line broad acting immunosuppressant for MG. Due to varied clinical responses to azathioprine we aimed to investigate the relationship between azathioprine metabolites and symptom control. Mild correlations between Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis Score (QMG) vs. 6-thioguanine nucleotides (R=-0.317 p=0.186) and QMG vs. lymphocyte count (R=0.402 p=0.08) were found. Azathioprine metabolite measurement should be considered in MG patients with; pancytopenia, deranged liver function or recurrent infections.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Azathioprine; Cell Count; Cohort Studies; Female; Guanine Nucleotides; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Lymphocytes; Male; Middle Aged; Myasthenia Gravis; Severity of Illness Index; Statistics as Topic; Thionucleotides