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Humoral immunity before and after thymectomy in myasthenia gravis

Royal Free Hospital, London, and the Immune Deficiency Referral Laboratory, Clinical Research Centre, Northwick Park, Great Britain.

Humoral immunity was studied in 10 patients with myasthenia gravis before thymectomy, in 15 different patients over 10 years after thymectomy, and in normal controls. Antibody titers to acetylcholine receptor were significantly (p < 0.01) lower in the post-thymectomy group. However, other antibody titers to common viruses, and to Escherichia coli, and isohemagglutinins showed no significant change. Levels of IgM and IgE (with atopic subjects excluded) decreased following thymectomy (p < 0.05). Autoantibodies persisted, apart from those directed against the acetylcholine receptor. The absence of any significant changes in humoral immunity after thymectomy for myasthenia gravis suggests that there is no generalized loss of helper T-cell function.

Dr. Scadding's address is Department of Endocrinology, Royal Free Hospital, London, Great Britain.

Accepted for publication August 10, 1978.

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