title: Changes in peripheral blood lymphocyte subset frequencies in myasthenia gravis patients are related to immunosuppression.
abstract: Surface antigens on peripheral blood lymphocytes from myasthenia gravis patients were investigated. The expression of DR+ and CD8+/DR+ T lymphocytes was increased and the expression of CD4+ T cells reduced. Neither thymectomy, clinical condition nor anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody titre correlated with any of the changes in peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets observed. However, immunosuppressive therapy correlated with the significant reduction in CD4+ and CD2+/CD4+ T cells in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Divisione Malattie Neuromuscolari, Istituto Nazionale Neurologico C. Besta, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Crosti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Armanini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Confalonieri
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Antozzi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mantegazza
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D013934:Thymectomy
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens