Antibodies to striated muscle and acetylcholine receptors in evaluation of surgical treatment outcomes in patients with autoimmune myasthenia gravis

Abstract

OBJECTIVE. The authors evaluated the role of antibodies to striated muscle and acetylcholine receptors in diagnostics of myasthenia gravis and thymoma, as well as outcomes of thymectomy and prognosis of myasthenia course. MATERIAL AND METHODS. The study investigated correlations of antibody content to striated muscles and acetylcholine receptors from the presence and size of thymoma, myasthenia in 157 patients with various pathologies of the thymus. The dynamics of antibody concentrations was followed up after thymectomy. RESULTS. Antibody titer to striated muscle depended on the presence and size of thymoma, severity of myasthenia and changed after thymectomy. Concentration of antibodies was associated with the presence of thymoma and it didn’t change after surgical treatment. Thymoma wasn’t revealed in patients who were seronegative to both antibodies. CONCLUSIONS. Seropositivity according to one of antibody could indicate the presence of thymoma, but its absence to both antibodies allowed doctors to eliminate this diagnosis. Antibodies to acetylcholine receptors are important markers of myasthenia. Monitoring of antibody titer dynamics to striated muscles after thymectomy could be useful for assessment of response to surgical treatment and prognosis of course of myasthenia.