Myasthenia gravis: the role of immunological deficiency

To evaluate further the association between myasthenia gravis and humoral immune deficiency, 92 sera from myasthenic patients were tested so as to determine titers against commensal E. coli, isohemagglutinin titers, and IgG and IgM concentrations. Results were compared with those obtained from normals, disease controls, and W27 positive arthropathy. On the basis of these three investigations it is concluded that subtle immunodeficiency is common in myasthenia gravis, and it is suggested that an immune defect might explain such diverse associations as thymic disease, HL-A antigens, and various autoimmune phenomena.