Whole genome sequencing of 25 South African individuals with myasthenia gravis

This study investigated the genetic basis of an ophthalmoplegic subphenotype of MG (OP-MG) which occurs in a proportion of myasthenics with juvenile symptom onset and African genetic ancestry. This OP-MG subphenotype is characterised by treatment resistant weakness of the extraocular muscles (EOMs) and the pathogenetic mechanism(s) underlying its development is unknown. The aim of this study was to use a hypothesis-generating genome-wide case-control analysis to identify candidate OP-MG susceptibility genes and pathways. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on 25 AChR-antibody positive myasthenic individuals of African genetic ancestry sampled from the phenotypic extremes: 15 with OP-MG (cases) and 10 individuals with control MG (EOM treatment-responsive).EGA study EGAS00001003462