[Myasthenia gravis and pregnancy. Review of the literature and considerations on the immunoprotective effect of alpha-fetoprotein through the observation of a clinical case].

Abstract

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder characterized by a reduction of muscular strength. It is associated with production of anti-acetylcholine-receptor antibodies and with the consequent decrease of muscular acetylcholine receptors. The Authors have studied this pathology during the pregnancy and the puerperium in a myasthenic patient and in her newborn, evaluating seric AChRAbs title and seric alpha-fetoprotein levels, to investigate the possible correlation among these parameters and MG. The study shows that with low seric levels of AChRAbs the mother had a progressive symptomatological impairment of MG from 36th week of pregnancy to term and in puerperium too; the newborn didn't show any sign of pathology. The possible immuno-protective role of alpha-FP in maternal and fetal MG evolution is discussed.