The Dynamic Changes Of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α And Interleukin-6 In Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells In Patients With Myasthenia Gravis

Objective:To investigate the dynamic change of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in patients with myasthenia gravis, and assess the cell immunity state of these patients in vitro.Methods:30 cases of patients with myasthenia gravis and 20 normal controls were studied. Before and after the administration of corticosteroids or immunosuppressant, the test of MG scores was taken, and the levels of the TNF-a and the IL-6 were measured by the means of radioimmunoassay in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in these patients.Results:Compared with normal controls, the levels of TNF-a and IL-6 were significantly increased (P<0.01) before treatment, and significantly decreased(P<0.01) after 2 weeks treatment in myasthenia gravis patients. There were not significantly differences found between the levels in different gender groups, age groups, the levels in patients with thymoma and without thymoma, and the levels in different course of disease(P>0.05).The levels in system types of myasthenia gravis were higher than that in ocular types, inâ…¡b types were higher than that inâ…¡a types(P<0.05).The levels of TNF-a and IL-6 were significantly decreased in clinical symptom improved patients than that in ineffective patients(P<0.05).There were significant positive correlation between MG scores and the levels of TNF-a and IL-6(P<0.01=. Conclusion:1. The cell immunity state of myasthenia gravis patients is abnormal. TNF-a and IL-6 might participate in the immunopathological process of MG.2. The levels of TNF-a and IL-6 were different in different types of MG.3. There were same between clinical symptom of patients and the levels of TNF-a and IL-6.4. The levels of TNF-a and IL-6 were decreased after efficient treatment.