Seronegative myasthenia gravis |
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| Authors: | B C Soliven D J Lange A S Penn D Younger A Jaretzki R E Lovelace L P Rowland |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Neurology, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY. |
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| Abstract: | Of 221 patients with myasthenia gravis, 18.5% had no detectable antibodies to acetylcholine receptor. Seven of 14 patients (50%) with only ocular symptoms for more than 2 years were seronegative, and 25 of 145 (17%) patients with generalized myasthenia were seronegative. The clinical characteristics of seronegative patients did not differ from patients with high antibody titers. No seronegative patient had a thymoma, but that difference did not reach statistical significance. Lack of serum antibodies did not preclude favorable response to thymectomy or plasmapheresis. |
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