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NEUROLOGY 1980;30:557
© 1980 American Academy of Neurology

Humoral immunity in myasthenia gravis

Effect of steroids and thymectomy

Richard S.A. Tindall, M.D.

Southwestern Medical School. University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas, TX.

Antibody to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is detectable in most patients with myasthenia gravis and is responsible for the defect in neuromuscular transmission present in the disorder. We evaluated the effects of thymectomy and steroid therapies on antireceptor antibody titers. The thymectomy-treated group (consisting of juvenile and early adult-onset patients) experienced a variable change in postoperative antibody titers, ranging from a 28% increase to an 84% decrease, with the mean change of an 18.3% decrease. The steroidtreated group consisted of late adult-onset myasthenics. In these patients there was a decrease in antibody titer ranging from 29% to 83%. The average time required for a 50% reduction in titer was 4.85 months and was associated with a marked clinical improvement or complete remission.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Tindall, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Southwestern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard. Dallas. TX 75235.

Supported by pants from the Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter-Myasthenia Gravis Foundation, The Muscular Dystrophy Association, and The Mabee Petroleum Corporation/Foundation.

Presented at the thirty-first annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology. Chicago. April 1979.

Accepted for publication August 10, 1979.






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