Two-year outcome of thymectomy with or without immunosuppressive treatment in nonthymomatous myasthenia gravis and its effect on regulatory T cells
Language English Country Netherlands Media print-electronic
Document type Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PubMed
26320610
DOI
10.1016/j.jns.2015.08.029
PII: S0022-510X(15)00525-0
Knihovny.cz E-resources
- Keywords
- CD4(+) CD25(+) regulatory T-lymphocytes, Combined immunosuppressive treatment, Corticosteroids, Myasthenia gravis, Pyridostigmine, QMG score, Thymectomy,
- MeSH
- CD4 Antigens MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Outcome Assessment, Health Care * MeSH
- Adrenal Cortex Hormones therapeutic use MeSH
- Immunosuppressive Agents therapeutic use MeSH
- Drug Therapy, Combination MeSH
- Combined Modality Therapy MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Myasthenia Gravis blood drug therapy surgery MeSH
- Follow-Up Studies MeSH
- CD4 Lymphocyte Count MeSH
- Lymphocyte Count MeSH
- Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit MeSH
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory * MeSH
- Thymectomy methods MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Names of Substances
- CD4 Antigens MeSH
- Adrenal Cortex Hormones MeSH
- IL2RA protein, human MeSH Browser
- Immunosuppressive Agents MeSH
- Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit MeSH
BACKGROUND: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is the autoimmune disorder in which the thymus is considered the pathogenic organ. Thymectomy (TE) is a therapeutic option for MG and often ameliorates clinical symptoms. METHODS: We evaluated clinical features and outcomes after TE in patients without thymoma and the influence of TE with or without concomitant immunotherapy on the CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cell subpopulation of lymphocytes in peripheral blood in defined followed groups of nonthymomatous MG patients. RESULTS: A total of 46 patients with generalized MG who underwent transsternal TE were identified. Neurologic outcomes after TE were favorable for the majority of patients mainly from the group treated with corticosteroids or combined immunosuppressive treatment. TEs with immunosuppressive treatment in MG patients were associated with increased percentages of CD4(+)CD25(+) cells (p<0.001). No significant change in the postoperative levels of CD4(+)CD25(+) cells was observed in thymectomized patients who preoperatively only received pyridostigmine. Also their clinical response to TE after 2 years of follow-up was worst of all followed groups. CONCLUSIONS: The exact mechanism by which TE ameliorates symptoms of MG is yet not clear. These observations indicate that increased percentages of CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells in MG may be related to disease stability and that TE and synergistic effect with concomitant, continuing immunotherapy augmented the proportion of CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells. On the basis of our observations TE alone is not enough to increase the number of circulating CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells and to establish complete stable remission.
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