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
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adolescent
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Adult
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Autoantibodies / analysis*
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Autoimmune Diseases / drug therapy
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Autoimmune Diseases / immunology*
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Autoimmune Diseases / surgery
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Child
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Combined Modality Therapy
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Follow-Up Studies
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Humans
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Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
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Myasthenia Gravis / drug therapy
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Myasthenia Gravis / etiology
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Myasthenia Gravis / immunology*
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Myasthenia Gravis / surgery
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Postoperative Period
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Receptors, Cholinergic / immunology*
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Severity of Illness Index
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Thymectomy*
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Thymoma / complications
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Thymoma / surgery
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Thymus Neoplasms / complications
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Thymus Neoplasms / surgery
Substances
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Autoantibodies
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Immunosuppressive Agents
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Receptors, Cholinergic