title: Seronegative myasthenia gravis.
abstract: Of 221 patients with myasthenia gravis, 18.5% had no detectable antibodies to acetylcholine receptor. Seven of 14 patients (50%) with only ocular symptoms for more than 2 years were seronegative, and 25 of 145 (17%) patients with generalized myasthenia were seronegative. The clinical characteristics of seronegative patients did not differ from patients with high antibody titers. No seronegative patient had a thymoma, but that difference did not reach statistical significance. Lack of serum antibodies did not preclude favorable response to thymectomy or plasmapheresis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY.
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Soliven
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Penn
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Younger
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jaretzki
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Lovelace
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Rowland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology; D012698:Serologic Tests
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic