title: Myasthenia gravis: the role of immunological deficiency.
abstract: To evaluate further the association between myasthenia gravis and humoral immune deficiency, 92 sera from myasthenic patients were tested so as to determine titers against commensal E. coli, isohemagglutinin titers, and IgG and IgM concentrations. Results were compared with those obtained from normals, disease controls, and W27 positive arthropathy. On the basis of these three investigations it is concluded that subtle immunodeficiency is common in myasthenia gravis, and it is suggested  that an immune defect might explain such diverse associations as thymic disease, HL-A antigens,  and various autoimmune phenomena.
mesh_terms: D000373:Agglutinins / Q000032:analysis; D000917:Antibody Formation; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000276:immunology; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000150:complications*; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000373:Agglutinins; D006680:HLA Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D007518:Isoantibodies