Clinical and experimental evidence strongly suggests that circulating antibodies directed against acetylcholine receptor (AChR) and muscle cell antigens are important in the pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis. Several antibody mediated mechanisms have been implanted in the alteration of neuromuscular transmission, including (1) complement mediated destruction of motor and plates with consequent AChR loss, (2) blockage of the AChR active site preventing AChR access, or (3) alteration of AChR turnover. The positive response to thymectomy in patients with a short history of myasthenia gravis (MG) may be due to alteration of thymic cell populations that normally regulate antibody production
A collection of reagents and other associated materials intended to be used for the qualitative and/or quantitative detection of antibodies to striated muscle in a clinical specimen, using a fluorescent immunoassay method. It is used as an aid in the diagnosis of skeletal and cardiac muscle autoimmune disorders such as myasthenia gravis (MG) and inflammatory myopathies, and various autoimmune endocrinopathies.