ContributorsGIW wrote and revised the manuscript in response to co-author comments. He finalized all the figures and tables, performed the literature search, and assisted with data interpretation. HJK critically reviewed the manuscript and made important suggestions to improve it. He assisted with data interpretation. IBA performed the data analysis, constructed the figures and tables, and made important suggestions to improve the manuscript. H-CK assisted with the data analysis and also reviewed the manuscript. GRC critically reviewed the manuscript and made important suggestions to improve it. He assisted with data interpretation. All other authors were given the opportunity to review the manuscript and make suggestions which GIW received, either revising the paper or providing explanations. All who are not deceased were involved with approval of the manuscript.

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To investigate autoantibodies related to excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG), we developed a novel method to detect autoantibodies against dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR). Using this method, we detected DHPR antibody in 37% (11 out of 30) of MG patients with thymoma.Antibodies were not detected in normal nor disease controls. The titer of DHPR antibodies showed no significant correlation with autoantibodies to acetylcholine nor ryanodine receptors. The DHPR antibody is another marker for thymoma in MG, and it might have some role in clinical symptoms related to E-C coupling.