Abstract
Anti-ryanodine receptor (RyR) antibodies were measured in sera from 33 myasthenia gravis (MG) patients using three peptides from the human RyR1 sequence, two C-terminal peptides included in the functional calcium release channel, and an N-terminal peptide implicated in ion-conduction. Antibodies were more frequently positive against the two C-terminal peptides, particularly in thymoma-associated MG. In a preliminary open trial with FK506, immunosuppressant and enhancer of RyR-related sarcoplasmic calcium release, the authors observed the sustained benefits in anti-RyR-positive MG patients.
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Aged
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Autoantibodies / blood
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Autoantibodies / immunology*
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Autoantigens / chemistry
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Autoantigens / immunology*
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Combined Modality Therapy
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Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
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Epitopes / immunology
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Female
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Humans
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Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Myasthenia Gravis / blood
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Myasthenia Gravis / drug therapy*
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Myasthenia Gravis / etiology
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Myasthenia Gravis / immunology
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Myasthenia Gravis / surgery
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Receptors, Cholinergic / immunology
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Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel / chemistry
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Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel / immunology*
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Tacrolimus / therapeutic use*
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Thymectomy
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Thymoma / complications
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Thymoma / surgery
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Thymus Neoplasms / complications
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Thymus Neoplasms / surgery
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Treatment Outcome
Substances
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Autoantibodies
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Autoantigens
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Epitopes
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Immunosuppressive Agents
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Receptors, Cholinergic
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Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel
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Tacrolimus