acetylcholine receptor antibody

Acetylcholine Receptor Antibody

A group of antibodies which react with the binding site or epitopes close to the binding site for acetylcholine or alpha-bungarotoxin. AChR-binding antibodies wax and wane as a function of myasthenia gravis severity, and block and destroy acetylcholine receptors, causing muscle weakness. Serum levels of acetylcholine receptor antibodies correlate poorly with severity of weakness. Myasthenia gravis (MG) may improve with immunosuppression therapy.

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acetylcholine receptor antibody

AChR antibodies, motor end plate antibody Clinical immunology A group of antibodies that are reactive with epitopes other than the binding site for acetylcholine or α-bungarotoxin; AChR-binding antibodies wax and wane as a function of disease severity, and block and destroy acetylcholine receptors, causing muscle weakness; although serum levels of ARAs correlate poorly with severity of weakness, MG may improve with immunosuppressive therapy Specimen Serum at room temperature Ref range < 0.03 nmol/L Method Radioreceptor assay Comments Failure to maintain specimen at room temperature interferes with results; Pts undergoing thymectomy, thoracic duct drainage, immunospressive therapy or plasmapheresis may have ↓ levels. See Anti-striated muscle antibody, Myasthenia gravis.

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.