Case report

Plasmapheresis and Specific Immunoadsorption in the Treatment of Myasthenia Gravis

Petar Kes
Vanja Bašić-Kes

Abstract

Myasthenia gravis is an antibody-mediated autoimmune disease in which circulating acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies have been identified that bind to the receptor sites in voluntary muscles, thereby damaging and blocking the receptors. Selective removal of the blocking antibody by plasmapheresis or specific immunoadsorption provides important methods in the treatment of patients with myasthenia gravis. Novel immunoadsorbent columns have been developed especially for the treatment of patients with myasthenia gravis, using a specific affinity ligand (Torpedo 183-200, a synthetic peptide) to remove the blocking antibody. This immunoadsorbent produced specific removal of the blocking antibody without reducing other plasma proteins. Clinical improvement was observed in 78% of myasthenia gravis patients. There were no adverse effects.

Keywords

Myasthenia gravis, therapy; Plasmapheresis

Hrčak ID:

14847

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/14847

Publication date:

1.3.2001.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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