β2-Adrenergic receptor gene polymorphisms in the relapse of myasthenia gravis with thymus abnormality

The role of β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) in the relapse of myasthenia gravis (MG) associated with thymus abnormality has not been fully identified.

Using polymerase chain reaction and gene sequencing method, we investigated the relationship of β2-AR gene polymorphisms with different thymus pathology in MG patients. The role of β2-AR gene polymorphisms in the relapse of MG was further investigated.

Age of onset (p = 0.034), the onset symptom of ocular MG (OMG; p = 0.023), the first symptom of OMG second generalization (p = 0.040) were different in MG with thymoma from those in MG with normal thymus or thymus hyperplasia. Gene polymorphisms of β2-AR on positions 16 and 27 showed no significant difference between relapsed and non-relapsed MG patients with thymus abnormality (thymus hyperplasia: position 16, p = 0.792; position 27, p = 0.664; thymoma: position 16, p = 0.226; position 27, p = 0.615). However, genotypes distribution on position 27 among MG patients with three thymus histology was significantly different (χ² = 8.153, p = 0.041). Furthermore, glucocorticoid can decrease relapse of MG with thymus hyperplasia (p = 0.021).

MG patients with thymus abnormality differ from MG patients with normal thymus in age of onset, the onset symptom of OMG and the first symptom of OMG second generalization. β2-AR gene polymorphisms had no relationship with the relapse of MG with thymus abnormality. Gene polymorphism of β2-AR on position 27 was associated with different thymus histology of MG. Glucocorticoid was able to reduce the risk of relapse of MG with thymus hyperplasia.