Body composition and adipokines plasma levels in patients with myasthenia gravis treated with high cumulative glucocorticoid dose

This study aimed to evaluate changes in body composition, i.e. overweight, obesity, fat accumulation and low lean body mass and plasma levels of adipokines in patients with MG. The study enrolled 80 patients with MG, and 62 controls. Body fat mass and body lean mass was analyzed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry technique (DXA). Plasma levels of leptin were analyzed by Luminex® and adiponectin and resistin were analyzed by ELISA. The mean age of patients with MG was 41.9 years, with 13.5 years of length of illness, and mean cumulative dose of glucocorticoids 38,123 mg. Our results showed that the frequency of obesity is higher in MG patients than in controls, and patients with MG presented higher body fat mass, android body adiposity and total body fat than controls. MG patients presented lower levels of resistin and higher levels of leptin in comparison with controls. There were no differences in the plasma levels of adiponectin. Higher total body fat and lower body lean mass were associated with increased severity of MG symptoms. This result points to the relevance of estimation of body composition in planning long-term care of MG patients.