According to Skoglund RR, Roberts CC, & Huddlestone J, "The role of
anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody in neonatal myasthenia gravis" in
Bull Los Angeles Neurol Soc 1978 43:2-4 66-9
"Presence of a markedly elevated anti-AcH R-antibody in a pregnant
patient symptomatic with myasthenia gravis does not necessarily predict
a clinically affected offspring, nor does the elevated antibody in the
infant, presumably acquired transplacentally, necessarily result in
clinical symptomatology in the newborn period." This was determined by
direct testing of a breastfeeding mother with myasthenia and her
newborn.

However, Camus M, & Clouard C, in their article "Myasthenia and
pregnancy" (8 cases) published in the J Gynecol Obstet Biol Reprod
(Paris) 1989 18:7 905-11, "Breast feeding by the mother can only be
carried out if the myasthenia is stable and if there are weak levels
 of anti-receptor antibodies to acetylcholine. 50% of the newborn are
often small for dates and show transitory myasthenia after delivery. The
literature, however, shows only 10-20%. This finding is not always
correlated with the levels of anti-receptor antibodies for
acetylcholine. If they are present, they are useful to diagnose
transitory myasthenia."

Perhaps the original articles could be pulled for more detailed
information. In any event, it does look like breastfeeding is a distinct likelihood.

Joan Edelstein

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