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J Aarli

Publications and source records attributed to J Aarli.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Paraneoplastic myasthenia gravis: detection of anti-MGT30 (titin) antibodies predicts thymic epithelial tumor.

It has been suggested that antibodies against non-acetylcholine receptor proteins of striated muscle are markers of the presence of a thymic epithelial tumor in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). These antibodies may be measured using an immunofluorescence assay against striated muscle (anti-STR) or an ELISA with a recombinant 30-kd titin fragment (anti-MGT30). To directly compare anti-STR with anti-MGT30, we examined the sera of 276 consecutive patients with known or suspected MG. Definite diagnoses and thymic histology, if available, were correlated with the antibody assays. Of the 276 patients, 164 had MG. Thymic histology was obtained in 44 patients: 18 had lymphofollicular hyperplasia, 13 thymic epithelial tumors, 8 atrophy, and 5 were normal. When compared with anti-STR, anti-MGT30 showed a sensitivity of 69% (STR 77%), specificity of 100% (STR 56%, p = 0.026), negative predictive value of 82% (STR 77%), and positive predictive value of 100% (STR 56%, p = 0.003) for the identification of a thymic epithelial tumor versus thymic hyperplasia. We conclude that the anti-MGT30 ELISA is better than the anti-STR immunofluorescence assay for the diagnosis of paraneoplastic MG.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed1992

Left ventricular function in myasthenia gravis.

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder with autoantibodies to acetylcholine receptors of skeletal muscle. Left ventricular diastolic function was studied with M-mode and Doppler echocardiography in 25 patients with myasthenia and in a group of age- and heart rate-matched control subjects. In the patients, diastolic peak filling rate was reduced by 37%, and Doppler peak early filling velocity (E) was reduced by 12% compared with the control subjects (2.7 +/- 0.7 vs 4.2 +/- 1.0 s-1, and 76 +/- 8 vs 85 +/- 15 cm/s, respectively; p less than 0.05). Peak atrial filling velocity (A) was increased by 38% (68 +/- 17 vs 48 +/- 9 cm/s; p less than 0.01), and consequently the E:A ratio in the group of patients was reduced by 33% (1.22 +/- 0.40 vs 1.81 +/- 0.33; p less than 0.001). End-diastolic dimension was 5.0 +/- 0.5 cm in both groups, heart rate was 70 +/- 12 vs 68 +/- 16 beats/min (p = not significant [NS]), M-mode ejection fraction was 76 +/- 8 vs 79 +/- 5% (p = NS), M-mode peak ejection rate was -1.9 +/- 0.4 vs -2.1 +/- 0.3 s-1 (p = NS), and peak aortic outflow velocity was 109 +/- 18 vs 98 +/- 13 cm/s (p = NS). Twenty-three patients and 15 control subjects were studied before and after intake of the acetylcholine-esterase inhibitor pyridostigmine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Cauda equina lesions in ankylosing spondylitis.

Three patients with the combination of long-standing ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and cauda equina syndrome are described and compared with 17 from the literature. The nerve root lesion has been of gradual onset and has since the time of diagnosis either been stationary or progressed slowly. Radicular pain in the feet and legs, and genito-urinary complaints have been the dominant and most disabling symptoms. Typical myelographic findings were expansion of the dural sac and arachnoidal diverticula. There is a highly probable relationship between AS and the neurological syndrome. The pathogenesis is probably related to early arachnoiditis with subsequent loss of meningeal elasticity. Earlier recognition of the root lesion may result in a more effective treatment.

Adult↗