The role of thymomas in the development of myasthenia gravis

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2003 Sep:998:223-36. doi: 10.1196/annals.1254.025.

Abstract

Thymic pathology occurs in 80-90% of myasthenia gravis patients. Significant associations between different thymic alterations and clinical findings are discussed. To highlight peculiarities in thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis, we briefly review myasthenia gravis associated with thymic lymphofollicular hyperplasia (TFH) and thymic atrophy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Differentiation / genetics
  • Atrophy / complications*
  • Atrophy / genetics
  • Atrophy / immunology
  • Atrophy / metabolism
  • CTLA-4 Antigen
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Myasthenia Gravis / classification
  • Myasthenia Gravis / etiology*
  • Myasthenia Gravis / genetics
  • Myasthenia Gravis / surgery
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes, Nervous System / complications
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes, Nervous System / surgery
  • Receptors, Cholinergic / immunology
  • Thymoma / complications*
  • Thymoma / genetics
  • Thymoma / pathology
  • Thymoma / surgery
  • Thymus Hyperplasia / complications*
  • Thymus Hyperplasia / metabolism
  • Thymus Hyperplasia / pathology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Differentiation
  • CTLA-4 Antigen
  • CTLA4 protein, human
  • Receptors, Cholinergic
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha