Immunoactivation in the central nervous system in myasthenia gravis

To assess signs of immunoactivation within the central nervous system in myasthenia gravis (MG) we examined the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 44 MG patients for certain immunological parameters. Altogether 73% of the patients had some protein and/or cellular abnormality in their CSF. 22 (50%) out of 44 patients had a lymphoid reaction, i.e. a pathologically elevated proportion of enlarged lymphoid cells, in their CSF. In 15 (37.5%) out of 40 patients an enrichment of anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies in the CSF was observed in relation to serum antibodies. Our findings suggest involvement of the central nervous system in many myasthenia gravis patients.