Changes in lymphocyte subsets in myasthenia gravis: Correlation with level of antibodies to acetylcholine receptor and age of patient

Article abstract We report a detailed analysis of the subsets of lymphocytes in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). There was a slight, nonsignificant increase in the level of CD5⁺ B lymphocytes among MG patients as compared with normal controls. The proportion of CD5⁺ T cells in MG was similar to that in controls. However, whereas age had no effect on the level of these cells in normal individuals, a significant age–related decrease of these cells was present in MG patients. The proportion of double–positive CD4⁺CD8⁺ T cells was significantly increased in MG. The level of the CD29⁺ CD4⁺ (helper–inducer) subset was significantly higher in MG patients than in controls. There was no correlation between the titer of autoantibodies to acetylcholine receptor and the level of either CD29⁺ CD4⁺ T cells or CD5⁺ B cells among MG patients. The only T–cell subset that correlated with the autoantibody titer was the CD45RA⁺ CD4⁺ (suppressor–inducer) subset of CD4⁺ T cells.