The impact of HLA on long-term outcome after thymectomy for myasthenia gravis.

Abstract

In a retrospective series of 86 patients with myasthenia gravis, the only factors predictive of improvement in muscular strength after transsternal thymectomy were preoperative severity of myasthenia (90% versus 54%, p = 0.0014) and HLA-B8 (79% versus 50%, p = 0.0060) in bivariable and multivariable analyses. Both factors were not interrelated (p = 0.824). The statistical effect of HLA-B8 was independent from preoperative severity of disease. Typing for HLA-B8 may thus be a valuable adjunct in predicting the benefit of thymectomy in myasthenia. The observation that an MHC class I allele is associated with clinical improvement after thymectomy suggests that the clinical course of myasthenia may be influenced by class I restricted T-cells.

• Authors: A Machens, C Löliger, U Pichlmeier, T Emskötter, C Busch, J R Izbicki
• Journal: Journal of neuroimmunology (J Neuroimmunol) Vol. 88 Issue 1-2 Pg. 177-81 (Aug 01 1998) ISSN: 0165-5728 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 9688339 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• HLA-B8 Antigen

Topics

• Alleles
• HLA-B8 Antigen (analysis, genetics, physiology)
• Haplotypes
• Humans
• Myasthenia Gravis (immunology, physiopathology, surgery)
• Prognosis
• Regression Analysis
• Retrospective Studies
• Severity of Illness Index
• Thymectomy
• Treatment Outcome