title: [Anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies: effect of immunosuppressive drug therapy in patients with myasthenia gravis].
abstract: We studied anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies (ARAb) in 25 patients with myasthenia gravis before and after the immunosuppressive drug (steroid) therapy and in 22 patients before and after thymectomy. The clinical effect after the treatment was correlated with the reduction of ARAb levels by more than 20% in 62% of patients. The ARAb levels did not change, or even increased, in 15% patients despite the improvement of their clinical state. We showed the direct correlation between the clinical improvement and the decrease of ARAb level.
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Sidnev
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Sanadze
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Dedaev
authors.forename: M Iu
authors.initials: MIu
authors.lastname: Karganov
authors.forename: I B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Alchinova
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013934:Thymectomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D011239:Prednisolone; D008775:Methylprednisolone