Immunologic aspects of myasthenia gravis.
Clinical and pathologic features of myasthenia gravis suggest a possible autoimmune etiology. Myasthenia is found in association with other putative autoimmune diseases and autoantibodies including anti-muscle antibodies. There is also in vitro evidence for cell-mediated immunity to muscle in blood and thymic cells as well as a suggestion of antigenic disparity between blood and thymic cells. In addition, two experimental animal models are under investigation. It seems likely that the immune system plays a role in the pathogenesis, but what that role is and how it relates to neuromuscular block is not clear.
D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D013952:Thymus Hyperplasia / Q000209:etiology
D001323:Autoantibodies