Summary
| Direction in Gulf War Illness | ↑ Elevated — higher than in the comparison group |
|---|---|
| Category | Autoimmune |
| Also described as | Cholinergic autoantibodies |
| Compared against | HGV (healthy Gulf War veteran controls) |
| Associated symptoms | Muscle weakness, autonomic symptoms |
| Test type | Blood test (serum / plasma / whole blood) |
| Source | Gean et al. 2021 — doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119456 |
| Condition atlas | Gulf War Illness Biomarker Atlas |
Related Autoimmune markers in Gulf War Illness
- Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) ↕
- Rheumatoid factor (RF) ↕
- β2-adrenergic receptor autoantibodies ↑
- Muscarinic receptor autoantibodies ↑
Full list: Gulf War Illness Biomarker Atlas.
Frequently asked questions
Is Anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies high or low in Gulf War Illness?
Elevated. Studies summarised in the OSMF atlas report higher Anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies in Gulf War Illness than in healthy Gulf War veteran controls. Source: Gean et al. 2021.
What symptoms is Anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies associated with in Gulf War Illness?
The cited literature associates this marker with Muscle weakness, autonomic symptoms. These are population-level associations and do not mean the marker causes the symptoms.
Which test measures Anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies?
It is measured as a blood test (serum / plasma / whole blood). Many of the cited studies used research-grade assays, so clinical availability may vary.
Is one abnormal Anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies result diagnostic of Gulf War Illness?
No. No single biomarker is diagnostic of Gulf War Illness. Anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies findings come from group comparisons, overlap considerably between patients and controls, and vary with study design, timing and comparison group. A result should be interpreted by a clinician alongside symptoms, history and other tests.
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-29 · Page generated from gulf-war-illness.json · Browse: Gulf War Illness atlas · Biomarker Index · All marker pages
Disclaimer: This page is an educational synthesis of published, peer-reviewed research and is not medical advice. Biomarker findings vary across studies with case definitions, comparison groups, timing and assay methods. Direction of change reflects the predominant finding in the cited source and does not establish a diagnostic threshold. Discuss any test result with a qualified clinician.