Anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies decrease after thymectomy in patients with myasthenia gravis. Clinical correlations

J Autoimmun. 1991 Apr;4(2):197-211. doi: 10.1016/0896-8411(91)90018-8.

Abstract

Clinical course and changes in serum levels of antibodies to the acetylcholine receptor (a-AChR) were followed in 82 patients with myasthenia gravis during a period of 1-8 years after thymectomy. Decrease in a-AChR immediately after thymectomy was influenced by changes in a total IgG. Immunosuppressive medication affected serum a-AChR at all points of time. In a subgroup of 41 patients without thymoma who had no immunosuppressive drugs, there was a steady decrease in a-AChR concomitant with clinical improvement from 6 weeks after thymectomy.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Autoantibodies / analysis*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / drug therapy
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / surgery
  • Child
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Myasthenia Gravis / drug therapy
  • Myasthenia Gravis / etiology
  • Myasthenia Gravis / immunology*
  • Myasthenia Gravis / surgery
  • Postoperative Period
  • Receptors, Cholinergic / immunology*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Thymectomy*
  • Thymoma / complications
  • Thymoma / surgery
  • Thymus Neoplasms / complications
  • Thymus Neoplasms / surgery

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Receptors, Cholinergic