Serum Anti-Acetylcholine Receptor Antibody, Interleukin-2 and Soluble Interleukin-2 Receptor Level in Myasthenia Gvavis

ABSTRACT

Objective/BACKGROUND: Serum levels of anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody (AChR-Ab), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) may represent markers of disease severity in myasthenia gravis (MG). This study was performed to evaluate the correlations between disease severity and immunological parameters such as serum AChR-Ab, IL-2 and sIL-2R level and between each immunological parameters. METHODS: Serum levels of AChR-Ab, IL-2 and sIL-2R were measured in 30 MG patients and in 22 healthy controls. Results : Serum levels of AChR-Ab and sIL-2R were higher in MG than in healthy controls (p<0,01). The occurrence of IL-2 positive serum samples was 46.7% in MG but none in controls. There were no significant correlations between disease severity and immunological parameters and between each immunological parameters. Conclusions : Serum IL-2 and sIL-2R levels may not represent markers of disease severity in MG, In order to further document the correlation between each parameters, follow-up of individual patients with serial serum samplings may be necessary.