Seronegative myasthenia gravis.
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.
Soliven
B C
BC
Department of Neurology, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY.
Lange
D J
DJ
Penn
A S
AS
Younger
D
D
Jaretzki
A
A
Lovelace
R E
RE
Rowland
L P
LP
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
D000906:Antibodies; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic