ISSN:
1573-2592
Keywords:
Corticosteroid effects
;
thymus subpopulations
;
myasthenia gravis
;
man
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Thein vivo effects of corticotherapy on thymocyte subpopulations have been evaluated in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). Ten patients receiving high-dose, long-term treatment were studied and compared with two control groups (MG untreated patients and normal agematched subjects). In the treated group, the thymus was generally involuted; the percentage of OKT6+ or OKT4+T8+ thymocytes was profoundly decreased compared to controls. A significant percentage of OKT10− cells was detected particularly among older patients, suggesting steroid-induced immigration. Conversely the percentage of more mature OKT3+ cells was increased. The balance between OKT4+T8− and OKT4−T8+ cells was unchanged in young patients (〈40 years old) and increased in the older group. These data show that, as in the mouse, corticosteroids profoundly alter human thymocyte subsets.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00915041
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