HLA, anti-DNA, and complement in myasthenia gravis

Twenty-seven patients (18 females and 9 males) with myasthenia gravis were HLA-A, -B, -C, and -D typed, and the results were analyzed with relation to evidence of immunodeficiency, thymic disease, and associated autoimmune processes. An association of A1, B8, and DRW3 appeared to identify a group of 8 females with higher mean anti-DNA, lower mean C4, and lower mean E. coli antibody titer than other females in whom CW4 (with or without BW35) was common (6 of the remaining 10 females were in this category). Antiacetylcholine receptor (anti-AChR) autoantibody and reduced serum IgM and isohemagglutinin titers were not clearly related to particular HLA specificities. These results suggest that HLA-A1, -B8, -DRW3, and -CW4 may be related to associated phenomena rather than playing a major role in the development of anti-AChR and myasthenia gravis.