Clinico-immunological features of generalized myasthenia in patients with hyperplasia and atrophy of the thymus gland
Vetshev, P.S.; Zaĭrat'iants, O.V.; Ippolitov, I.K.; Belokrinitskiĭ, D.V.; Shkrob, L.O.; Khodzhaev, Z.S.; Kurochkin, A.V.
Klinicheskaia Meditsina 69(12): 78-83
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0023-2149 PMID: 1787688 Document Number: 379674
One hundred and seventeen patients with generalized myasthenia were examined and subjected to thymectomy. The immune status of the patients was studied prior to the surgery. Morphological study included histological, morphological and immunohistochemical methods. Hyperplasia of the thymus parenchyma was observed in 35% of cases, normal dimensions of the parenchyma in 40% of cases, and atrophy in 25% of observations. The state of the thymus parenchyma does not depend on the duration and severity of the disease and specifics of treatment. The immune status of myasthenia patients is characterized by a decrease in the percentage of blood T-lymphocytes and by an increased T-helpers/T-suppressors ratio and absolute 0-lymphocyte count. Morphological and clinico-immunological studies made it possible to identify 2 types of changes, apparently, differing in their pathogenesis.