Specific involvement of peripheral T lymphocytes against acetylcholine receptors in myasthenia gravis.

A specific sensitisation of blood T lymphocytes against the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor has been demonstrated in myasthenic patients. After thymectomy the T lymphocytes response was quickly decreased and in most patients it reached normal values. The T response remained at low or normal levels for at least two years. In patients who had undergone thymectomy three or more years before, a T lymphocyte response against acetylcholine receptors was frequently detected.