title: Effects of FK506 on myasthenia gravis patients with high interleukin-2 productivity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
abstract: We compared the early effects of FK506 on clinical severity, interleukin-2 (IL-2) production by phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMs), and serum levels of acetylcholine receptor antibodies between myasthenia gravis (MG) patients with elevated (>1250 pg/ml, n = 9) or normal (<1250 pg/mL, n = 10) levels of PBM IL-2 production. Reduction in clinical severity and PBM IL-2 production were significantly greater in the patients with elevated IL-2 production than those with normal PBM IL-2 production in the first month of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Iwate Medical University, Uchimaru 19-1, Morioka 020-8505, Japan.
authors.forename: Kimiaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Utsugisawa
authors.forename: Yuriko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nagane
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yonezawa
authors.forename: Daiji
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Obara
authors.forename: Ryushi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kondoh
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tohgi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D016559:Tacrolimus