The thymus in seronegative myasthenia gravis patients

Détails

ID Serval
serval:BIB_CF7FA51E33A1
Type
Article: article d'un périodique ou d'un magazine.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Titre
The thymus in seronegative myasthenia gravis patients
Périodique
Journal of Neurology
Auteur⸱e⸱s
Willcox  N., Schluep  M., Ritter  M. A., Newsom-Davis  J.
ISSN
0340-5354 (Print)
Statut éditorial
Publié
Date de publication
08/1991
Volume
238
Numéro
5
Pages
256-61
Notes
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't --- Old month value: Aug
Résumé
In 5-10% of all patients with typical generalised myasthenia gravis (MG), serum antibody to the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) is undetectable. To determine whether these represent a distinct subgroup, we have compared the thymuses of 14 seronegatives, 70 seropositives and 12 non-myasthenic controls. By quantitative immunohistology on coded sections, the 7 seronegative samples were clearly distinguishable from the controls by the pronounced lymph node-type T-cell areas in the medulla. While these closely resembled those in the seropositive cases, germinal centres were significantly sparser, and total in vitro IgG production was disproportionately low (per B cell) in the 12 cases tested. Furthermore, specific anti-AChR production was never detected in any of these cultures. The data support the view that the medullary T-cell areas are the most consistent abnormality in the MG thymus (though it may not be primary), and they strongly imply that seronegative and seropositive MG are distinct entities.
Mots-clé
Adolescent Adult Antigens, CD/analysis Autoantibodies/analysis Child Female Humans Hyperplasia Immunoglobulin G/analysis Immunohistochemistry Male Myasthenia Gravis/diagnosis/*immunology Receptors, Cholinergic/immunology Serologic Tests Thymus Gland/chemistry/*immunology/pathology
Pubmed
Web of science
Création de la notice
25/01/2008 12:46
Dernière modification de la notice
20/08/2019 15:49
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