title: Deficiencies in anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody measurement in myasthenia gravis.
abstract: In a retrospective case note study of 86 patients with myasthenia gravis, 60 had an anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody assay performed by the regional immunology laboratory. Antibody was detected in 38% which compares with 66-93% in other series. Whilst the use of staphylococcal protein A to precipitate the antibody-receptor complex, rather than anti-human immunoglobulin, may be partly responsible for this low sensitivity, other methodological problems are likely to exist. It is suggested that this potentially critical assay becomes a subject for regular audit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, North Manchester General Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Yuill
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Smaje
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000592:standards*; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000276:immunology; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000276:immunology*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A