title: Anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies decrease after thymectomy in patients with myasthenia gravis. Clinical correlations.
abstract: Clinical course and changes in serum levels of antibodies to the acetylcholine receptor (a-AChR) were followed in 82 patients with myasthenia gravis during a period of 1-8 years after thymectomy. Decrease in a-AChR immediately after thymectomy was influenced by changes in a total IgG. Immunosuppressive medication affected serum a-AChR at all points of time. In a subgroup of 41 patients without thymoma who had no immunosuppressive drugs, there was a steady decrease in a-AChR concomitant with clinical improvement from 6 weeks after thymectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kuks
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Oosterhuis
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Limburg
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: The
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013934:Thymectomy; D013945:Thymoma / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic