Serological Detection of Thymoma in Myasthenia Gravis

Aarli, Johan A.; Thunold, S.

doi:10.1159/000115265

Cited by 17 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…[3][4][5] Soon an association with thymomas was found. [5][6][7][8][9] This observation is also valid for the occurrence of anti-titin antibodies. 10 Moreover, it appears that a positive finding of antistriational muscle antibodies also implies elevated titers of anti-AChR antibodies.…”

mentioning

confidence: 76%

The occurrence of anti-titin antibodies and thymomas

Somnier

Engel²

2002

Neurology

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Apart from MG with a thymoma, the finding of the titin autoantibodies was observed to be an exclusive feature of late-onset MG, the frequency being 55%. No data were found to suggest that patients with MG were more likely to present with thymic tumors than other patients exhibiting thymic neoplasia. In about 80%, such tumors in MG were composed of cortical cells. The concept of the anti-titin antibodies merely as a paraneoplastic marker in MG was not supported by these data.

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mentioning

confidence: 76%

The occurrence of anti-titin antibodies and thymomas

Somnier

Engel²

2002

Neurology

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“…Diagnosis of thymomas is reached at by clinical examination and ACT supported by immunologic tests 3,5,8,9,[25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] . Using such procedures most thymomas are detected prior to surgery 21 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Immunologic assays may lead to suspect thymoma even prior to X-rays detection 3,4,8 . This is possible because of the high incidence of both antibodies anti-receptors such as anti-AChR and anti-ryanodine as well as antibodies against proteins (antigens) of skeletal muscle, in TMG [3][4][5]8,[25][26][27][28] . Almost all of the TMG patients had autoantibodies against skeletal muscle class IgG 5,8,26 ; they may be found in only 10%-15% of MG and atrophic thymus is rarely detected in patients with MG and thymic hyperplasia 5 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Myasthenia gravis and thymoma: evaluation of 41 patients

Assis

Zambon²,

Souza³

et al. 1999

Arq. Neuro-Psiquiatr.

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-We evaluated the epidemiological, clinical, laboratory and therapeutical aspects of 41 patients with thymomatous myasthenia gravis. Thirty five patients (85.36%) were submitted to thymectomy. Follow-up ranged from two to 18 years. Diagnosis of thymoma was based upon clinical investigations and CT scan of the anterior mediastinum and in 11 patients supported by immunological tests of anti-striated muscle antibodies with a positive result in more than 80% of cases. Histopathologic examination of all thymomectomized patients confirmed the diagnosis of thymoma. There was a significant predominance of benign over malignant thymoma. Occurred higher prevalence of male patients and of patients over 40 years of age. The therapeutical strategy to control myasthenic clinical findings was the same as that for non-thymomatous myasthenia gravis. The corticosteroids associated to cytotoxic drugs were less often used. Radiotherapy of the anterior mediastinum was more often used in patients having invasive tumors submitted to surgery or not. With regard to survival and control of myasthenia gravis, especially in younger patients and in those submitted to early surgery, results of treatment were surprisingly favorable.KEY WORDS: myasthenia gravis, thymoma, thymectomy.Miastenia grave e timoma: avaliação de 41 pacientes RESUMO -Avaliamos 41 pacientes com miastenia grave timomatosa sob os aspectos epidemiológico, clínico e terapêutico. Trinta e cinco pacientes (85,36%) foram timectomizados. O seguimento clínico variou de dois meses até 18 anos. O diagnóstico do timoma foi fundamentado no estudo de imagem do mediastino (tomografia axial computadorizada) e, em 11 pacientes, complementado com a determinação sérica de anticorpos para músculo estriado com resultado positivo em mais de 80% dos casos e confirmado pelo exame anátomo-patológico do timo realizado em todos os pacientes operados. Ocorreu predomínio significante de timomas benignos sobre timomas malignos, forma clínica generalizada severa, frequente envolvimento do sexo masculino e, em pacientes com mais de 40 anos de idade. A estratégia terapêutica para o controle dos sintomas miastênicos foi a mesma que para os pacientes não timomatosos. O emprego de imunossupressão medicamentosa esteróide associada a drogas citotóxicas foi menos frequente. A radioterapia foi usada com mais frequência nos pacientes portadores de tumores invasivos operados ou não. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: miastenia grave, timoma, timectomia.Acquired myasthenia gravis (MG) is an immunological disease with antibody activity against the acetylcholine nicotine receptor (antiAChR) of the neuromuscular junction, with fluctuant weakness of the skeletal muscle which improves with the administration of cholinergic drugs (CD). These antibodies are produced by B lymphocytes activated by helper T lymphocytes antigen-specific (CD4) 1,2 in the thymus and peripheral blood of patients with MG 3,4 .

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Diseases of the Mediastinum

Seaton¹

2000

Crofton and Douglas's Respiratory Diseases

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Serological Detection of Thymoma in Myasthenia Gravis

Cited by 17 publications

References 9 publications

The occurrence of anti-titin antibodies and thymomas

The occurrence of anti-titin antibodies and thymomas

Myasthenia gravis and thymoma: evaluation of 41 patients

Diseases of the Mediastinum

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