title: The outcome in myasthenia gravis patients--an eight-year follow-up after finishing immunoabsorption therapy.
abstract: Eight years ago four patients suffering from myasthenia gravis (MG) type C and E according to Compston with failed drug therapy were treated three times (one patient 11 times) by protein A immunoabsorption (Immunosorba, Excorim, Fresenius Hemocare GmbH, StWendel, Germany). No further immunoabsorption treatments have been carried out. In addition, three patients were given a thymectomy. The present status of the patients was checked six and eight years thereafter. We could see a beneficial effect in all MG patients. The patients are fit for work; all have an improved Besinger index. The patients were used as their own controls. A higher anti-AChR-ab level six years after protein A immunoabsorption than at the beginning was seen in all patients combined with a less serious MG. In addition, their immunomodulation could be induced as seen in lymphocyte and inflammatory protein changes during the first 36 days after beginning immunoabsorption treatment. A larger population has to be investigated to verify these results.
authors.affiliation: Dialyse-Germeinschaft Nord eV, Rostock, Germany. tiess@dialysis-north.de
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Schneidewind
authors.forename: U K
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Zettl
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ramlow
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tiess
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Michelsen
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hebestreit
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Prophet
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pätow
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benecke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D001781:Blood Component Removal / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007163:Immunosorbent Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000276:immunology; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000628:therapy*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A