title: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of antibodies to extractable muscle antigens in myasthenia gravis.
abstract: A purified citric acid soluble extract from human skeletal muscle (AEMA) and a phosphate-buffered saline extract from rabbit muscle acetone powder (EMA) were used to coat polystyrene beads in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). From 54 patients with myasthenia gravis, positive results were observed in 14. Five of 6 patients with thymoma had high levels of antibodies. With the diagnostic difficulties in detecting small and medium-sized thymoma, a sensitive assay for detection of antibodies to muscle antigen may be an important supplementary tool to detect tumors at early stages.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000276:immunology*; D011817:Rabbits; D013945:Thymoma / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens