title: Myasthenia gravis: steroid-induced effects on lymphocyte subpopulations in myasthenia gravis.
abstract: Lymphocyte subpopulations from patients with myasthenia gravis were evaluated during chronic steroid therapy. A marked lymphocytopenia (10-70%) was initially (day 3-21) noticed as well as a preferential depletion of thymus-derived cells which paralleled the clinical deterioration. Thus there was a relative increase in B cells, although their absolute number remained rather constant. These changes were reverted within 2-4 weeks in spite of continuous treatment. These findings are compatible with a release of myasthenic factors (anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies?) during the initial steroid-induced cell damage, the long-term beneficial effects being due to loss or suppression of autoreactive helper t cells.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003348:Cortisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D001623:Betamethasone; D003348:Cortisone