title: Acetylcholine receptor antibody titer and HLA-B8 antigen in myasthenia gravis.
abstract: In 82 white patients with myasthenia gravis, a high serum human acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody titer was related to the presence of the HLA-B8 antigen and increasing severity of the disease and not to age at onset, sex, presence of thymoma, or mode of treatment. Among patients without thymomas a high antibody titer was also associated with HLA-B8, particularly in those patients whose age at onset was less than 35 years. Thymectomy was associated with a lower median antibody titer when compared in two groups of HLA-B8-positive patients without thymoma who were similar for all other factors. Patients with thymomas who had received corticosteroids had a lower median titer than those who had not received steroids. This study supports the possibility that immune-response genes near the HLA-B8 segment of the major histocompatibility complex participate in the regulation of the humoral response to autoantigens, such as AChR protein.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D015795:HLA-B8 Antigen; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology*; D013934:Thymectomy; D013945:Thymoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D006680:HLA Antigens; D015795:HLA-B8 Antigen; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic