Tang_1997_Chin.Med.J_110_698

OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship between antibodies to acetylcholinesterase and myasthenic syndrome. METHODS: Serum class specific antibodies to acetylcholinesterase and acetylcholine receptor were prepared with solid phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 51 patients with myasthenic syndrome, 31 controls with other neurological diseases (diseased controls) and 44 normal controls. RESULTS: The positive rate of anti-acetylcholinesterase antibody in patients with myasthenic syndrome was 25%, while the results of the other two control groups were negative. Furthermore, the positive rate in patients without myasthenia gravis was 45%, which was much higher than that (13%) in those with myasthenic gravis. CONCLUSION: Anti-acetylcholinesterase antibody may play a role in the pathogenesis of myasthenic syndrome.