HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Correspondence: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Correspondence are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Conti-Tronconi, B. M. Articles by Clementi, F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Conti-Tronconi, B. M. Articles by Clementi, F.

Cellular immune response against acetylcholine receptor in myasthenia gravis

I. Relevance to clinical course and pathogenesis

Department of Pharmacology and the CNR Center of Cytopharmacology, University of Milano, and the Istituto Neurologico ‘C. Besta,’ Milano, Italy. Marina Morgutti is the recipient of an Anna Villa Rusconi fellowship.

The cellular immune response to acetylcholine receptor from Torpedo electric organ was studied in 100 myasthenic patients and 41 healthy subjects. The mean stimulation index (SI) was 2 ± 0.15 for the patients, and 1.06 ± 0.08 for the controls. Stimulation was significantly greater when the test medium contained autologous serum rather than a standard universal serum (AB serum). Young patients were generally good responders (SI, 2.39 ± 0.26), but older patients usually did not respond (mean SI, 1.18 ± 0.13). Among the younger patients, men had higher responses than women (mean SI, 3.13 ± 0.63 and 2.05 ± 0.23, respectively). There was no correlation between degree of lymphocytic reactivity and duration or severity of symptoms.

Dr. Conti-Tronconi's address is Department of Pharmacology, University of Milan, Via Vanvitelli 32, 20129 Milano, Italy.

Accepted for publication June 5, 1978.