Lymphocyte populations in patients with myasthenia gravis. Influence of thymectomy and immunosuppressive drugs.
The T/B peripheral blood lymphocyte ratio was evaluated in 51 patients with myasthenia gravis by means of the rosette test and HTLA. Total T cells and T gamma and Tmu were decreased while B lymphocytes were increased. E-active rosettes were also above the normal range. The previous thymectomy and/or immunosuppressive treatment restored the T lymphocytes identified by HTLA to normal range while those identified by E rosettes were still reduced. This difference may be due to the different stages of T lymphocyte maturation.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes; D013934:Thymectomy
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents