Deficiencies in anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody measurement in myasthenia gravis.

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1991 May; 54(5): 454–456.

PMCID: PMC488549

C E Clarke, D I Shepherd, G M Yuill, J C Smaje, and P B Wilson

Department of Neurology, North Manchester General Hospital, UK.

See commentary "Anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody measurement in myasthenia gravis." in volume 56 on page 115.

This article has been cited by other articles in PMC.

Abstract

In a retrospective case note study of 86 patients with myasthenia gravis, 60 had an anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody assay performed by the regional immunology laboratory. Antibody was detected in 38% which compares with 66-93% in other series. Whilst the use of staphylococcal protein A to precipitate the antibody-receptor complex, rather than anti-human immunoglobulin, may be partly responsible for this low sensitivity, other methodological problems are likely to exist. It is suggested that this potentially critical assay becomes a subject for regular audit.

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Selected References

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