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African American Health

MG and racial ethnicity

06/16/2003

Question:

Is there any evidence that MG affects African Americans differently than other ethnic groups, in severity? Or does MG vary strictly from person to person regardless of ethnicity?

Answer:

There is no evidence that African Americans are affected differently by MG, and, as you point out, there is great variation among patients, regardless of ethnicity. There is one epidemiological study conducted in Virginia that indicated MG be more common among African Americans compared to Caucasians. There are several small studies showing that Orientals in their native countries more commonly have ocular myasthenia.

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Response by:

Henry J Kaminski, MD Henry J Kaminski, MD
Formerly, Professor of Neurology
School of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University