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Myasthenia Gravis. Anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies

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Abstract

Human acetylcholine receptor and the Lefvert method (13) were used to determine the serum levels of anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies in 27 patients with Myasthenia Gravis.

Antibodies were detected in 22 patients (81%). Negative results were generally obtained in patients having milder forms of the disease. To find out whether serum levels of antibodies correlate with the severity of the disease, we compared the median antibody levels in patients with Type 1 and 2A Myasthenia Gravis with those of patients with type 2B and 3. Significantly lower titers were observed in the first group. Nevertheless, there were many overlapping values in the range of each class of the disease. A more definite relationship was observed in the follow-up of single patients. As a rule, clinical deterioration was accompanied by an increase of antibody levels and viceversa.

Sommario

Utilizzando recettore acetilcolinico prelevato da muscolo umano, noi abbiamo seguito il metodo di Lefvert [13] per determinare il livello serico degli anticorpi diretti contro il recettore acetilcolinico in 27 pazienti affetti da Miastenia Grave.

Gli anticorpi erano evidenziati in 22 pazienti (81%). Risultati negativi erano generalmente osservati in pazienti affetti dalle forme più lievi della malattia. Per studiare la possibile relazione tra livello serico anticorpale e severità della malattia abbiamo comparato i valori mediani dei titoli anticorpali in pazienti con Miastenia Grave tipo 1 e 2A nei confronti di quelli misurati in pazienti con Miastenia Grave tipo 2B e 3. Titoli significativamente più bassi erano osservati nel primo gruppo. Tuttavia frequenti sovrapposizioni erano osservate nei range di ciascuna classe della malattia. Una più definita relazione era notata nel follow-up di singoli pazienti. Generalmente il deterioramento clinico era accompagnato da un aumento del livello anticorpale, e viceversa.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto Neurologico C. Besta Milano, V. Celoria 11, 20133, Milano, (Italia)

    Cerrato D., Ariano C., Mantia L. La, Fiacchino F., Sghirlanzoni A., Nespolo A., Corridori F. & Cornelio F.

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  1. Cerrato D.
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  2. Ariano C.
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  3. Mantia L. La
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  4. Fiacchino F.
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  5. Sghirlanzoni A.
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  6. Nespolo A.
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  7. Corridori F.
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  8. Cornelio F.
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Cerrato, D., Ariano, C., La Mantia, L. et al. Myasthenia Gravis. Anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies. Ital J Neuro Sci 2, 165–171 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02335439

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