C-reactive protein/albumin ratio as a prognostic biomarker in myasthenia gravis

Abstract

Aims: Limited research has explored novel inflammatory targets in myasthenia gravis (MG). This study aimed to investigate the role of the C-reactive protein (CRP)/albumin ratio (CAR) in disease activity and prognosis in MG patients. Methods: CRP, albumin, and CAR levels were compared between MG patients and healthy controls. The relationships of these parameters with MG activities of daily living (MG-ADL) scores and mortality were examined. Results: Sixty-six patients and 51 controls participated. CRP and CAR levels were significantly higher in the patient group (p=0.002, 0.003). No significant difference was found in albumin levels (p=0.154). A positive correlation was observed between the MG-ADL stage and both CRP and CAR levels (p=0.000 for both), with these markers increasing as MG-ADL worsened. A negative correlation was found between the MG-ADL stage and albumin (p=0.003). CRP, CAR, and albumin levels were significantly associated with mortality (p=0.000, 0.000, 0.005). Conclusion: Elevated CRP and CAR levels in MG patients suggest acute inflammation contributing to clinical decline. Albumin’s decrease with worsening MG-ADL suggests its value as a prognostic marker rather than a diagnostic. CAR proved to be a stronger marker than albumin for disease diagnosis, severity monitoring, and mortality prediction. Our findings could help illuminate inflammatory mechanisms in MG and other neuromuscular diseases.

Keywords

• Myasthenia gravis
• C-reactive protein
• albumin

Miyastenia graviste prognostik bir biyobelirteç olarak C-reaktif protein/albüminin rolü

Abstract

Amaçlar: Sınırlı sayıda araştırma, miyastenia gravis'te (MG) yeni inflamatuar hedefleri araştırmıştır. Bu çalışma, MG hastalarında hastalık aktivitesi ve prognozda C-reaktif protein (CRP)/albümin oranının (CAR) rolünü araştırmayı amaçlamıştır. Yöntemler: CRP, albümin ve CAR düzeyleri MG hastaları ile sağlıklı kontroller arasında karşılaştırılmıştır. Bu parametrelerin MG günlük yaşam aktiviteleri (MG-ADL) skorları ve mortalite ile ilişkileri incelenmiştir. Sonuçlar: Altmış altı hasta ve 51 kontrol katılmıştır. CRP ve CAR düzeyleri hasta grubunda anlamlı şekilde daha yüksekti (p=0,002, 0,003). Albümin düzeylerinde anlamlı bir fark bulunmamıştır (p=0,154). MG-ADL evresi ile hem CRP hem de CAR düzeyleri arasında pozitif bir korelasyon gözlenmiştir (her ikisi için de p=0,000), bu belirteçler MG-ADL kötüleştikçe artmıştır. MG-ADL evresi ile albümin arasında negatif bir korelasyon bulunmuştur (p=0,003). CRP, CAR ve albumin düzeyleri mortalite ile anlamlı şekilde ilişkiliydi (p=0,000, 0,000, 0,005). Sonuç: MG hastalarında yüksek CRP ve CAR düzeyleri, akut inflamasyonun klinik düşüşe katkıda bulunduğunu düşündürmektedir. Albüminin kötüleşen MG-ADL ile azalması, tanısal olmaktan çok prognostik bir belirteç olarak değerini düşündürmektedir. CAR, hastalık tanısı, şiddet takibi ve mortalite tahmini için albuminden daha güçlü bir belirteç olduğu kanıtlanmıştır. Bulgularımız, MG ve diğer nöromüsküler hastalıklardaki inflamatuar mekanizmaları aydınlatmaya yardımcı olabilir.

Keywords

• Myastenia gravis
• C-reaktif protein
• albumin

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