The emerging spectrum of fetal acetylcholine receptor antibody-related disorders (FARAD).

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_61C2444B7091
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
The emerging spectrum of fetal acetylcholine receptor antibody-related disorders (FARAD).
Journal
Brain
Author(s)
Allen N.M., O'Rahelly M., Eymard B., Chouchane M., Hahn A., Kearns G., Kim D.S., Byun S.Y., Nguyen C.E., Schara-Schmidt U., Kölbel H., Marina A.D., Schneider-Gold C., Roefke K., Thieme A., Van den Bergh P., Avalos G., Álvarez-Velasco R., Natera-de Benito D., Cheng MHM, Chan W.K., Wan H.S., Thomas M.A., Borch L., Lauzon J., Kornblum C., Reimann J., Mueller A., Kuntzer T., Norwood F., Ramdas S., Jacobson L.W., Jie X., Fernandez-Garcia M.A., Wraige E., Lim M., Lin J.P., Claeys K.G., Aktas S., Oskoui M., Hacohen Y., Masud A., Leite M.I., Palace J., De Vivo D., Vincent A., Jungbluth H.
ISSN
1460-2156 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0006-8950
Publication state
Published
Issued date
03/10/2023
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
146
Number
10
Pages
4233-4246
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
In utero exposure to maternal antibodies targeting the fetal acetylcholine receptor isoform (fAChR) can impair fetal movement, leading to arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC). Fetal AChR antibodies have also been implicated in apparently rare, milder myopathic presentations termed fetal acetylcholine receptor inactivation syndrome (FARIS). The full spectrum associated with fAChR antibodies is still poorly understood. Moreover, since some mothers have no myasthenic symptoms, the condition is likely underreported, resulting in failure to implement effective preventive strategies. Here we report clinical and immunological data from a multicentre cohort (n = 46 cases) associated with maternal fAChR antibodies, including 29 novel and 17 previously reported with novel follow-up data. Remarkably, in 50% of mothers there was no previously established myasthenia gravis (MG) diagnosis. All mothers (n = 30) had AChR antibodies and, when tested, binding to fAChR was often much greater than that to the adult AChR isoform. Offspring death occurred in 11/46 (23.9%) cases, mainly antenatally due to termination of pregnancy prompted by severe AMC (7/46, 15.2%), or during early infancy, mainly from respiratory failure (4/46, 8.7%). Weakness, contractures, bulbar and respiratory involvement were prominent early in life, but improved gradually over time. Facial (25/34; 73.5%) and variable peripheral weakness (14/32; 43.8%), velopharyngeal insufficiency (18/24; 75%) and feeding difficulties (16/36; 44.4%) were the most common sequelae in long-term survivors. Other unexpected features included hearing loss (12/32; 37.5%), diaphragmatic paresis (5/35; 14.3%), CNS involvement (7/40; 17.5%) and pyloric stenosis (3/37; 8.1%). Oral salbutamol used empirically in 16/37 (43.2%) offspring resulted in symptom improvement in 13/16 (81.3%). Combining our series with all previously published cases, we identified 21/85 mothers treated with variable combinations of immunotherapies (corticosteroids/intravenous immunoglobulin/plasmapheresis) during pregnancy either for maternal MG symptom control (12/21 cases) or for fetal protection (9/21 cases). Compared to untreated pregnancies (64/85), maternal treatment resulted in a significant reduction in offspring deaths (P < 0.05) and other complications, with treatment approaches involving intravenous immunoglobulin/ plasmapheresis administered early in pregnancy most effective. We conclude that presentations due to in utero exposure to maternal (fetal) AChR antibodies are more common than currently recognized and may mimic a wide range of neuromuscular disorders. Considering the wide clinical spectrum and likely diversity of underlying mechanisms, we propose 'fetal acetylcholine receptor antibody-related disorders' (FARAD) as the most accurate term for these presentations. FARAD is vitally important to recognize, to institute appropriate management strategies for affected offspring and to improve outcomes in future pregnancies. Oral salbutamol is a symptomatic treatment option in survivors.
Keywords
Pregnancy, Female, Adult, Humans, Immunoglobulins, Intravenous, Receptors, Cholinergic, Myasthenia Gravis/therapy, Myasthenia Gravis/complications, Autoantibodies, Neuromuscular Diseases, Arthrogryposis/complications, arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, congenital myopathy, fetal acetylcholine receptor inactivation syndrome, myasthenia gravis, salbutamol, transient neonatal myasthenia gravis
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
23/05/2023 14:31
Last modification date
19/12/2023 8:14
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