MYASTHENIA-GRAVIS - MEASUREMENT OF ANTI-ACHR AUTOANTIBODIES USING CELL-LINE TE671

Anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies in myasthenia gravis (MG) can be quantitated using AChR extracted from the human rhabdomyosarcoma cell line TE671 (AChR(TE671)) as a practical alternative to AChR from human amputated limbs (AChR(AMP)). We compared the two antigen preparations using serum samples from different clinical groups of MG patients (n = 112) and various controls (n = 189). With two exceptions, both tests were positive or negative in the same patients. However, in the generalized MG group, the TE671 assay yielded significantly lower titers than the AChR(AMP) assay.