title: Myasthenia gravis patients with low plasma IL-6 and IFN-gamma benefit from etanercept treatment.
abstract: Steroid-dependent myasthenia gravis patients improved following treatment with etanercept (recombinant human TNF receptor:Fc) in a prospective pilot trial. While the plasma anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody levels remained unaffected, etanercept treatment increased plasma levels of C3, circulating immune complexes, IL-10 and IFN-gamma. There was a direct correlation between plasma IL-6, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma levels and the post-treatment clinical scores of patients. Moreover, patients with lower pre-treatment plasma IL-6 and IFN-gamma levels attained better clinical improvement following etanercept treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555-1070, USA. ertuzan@utmb.edu
authors.forename: Erdem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tüzün
authors.forename: Matthew N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Meriggioli
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rowin
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Premkumar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Christadoss
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D000068800:Etanercept; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D015850:Interleukin-6; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000068800:Etanercept