Inflammation and Epstein-Barr Virus Infection Are Common Features of Myasthenia Gravis Thymus: Possible Roles in Pathogenesis
Table 1
Clinical features of MG patients included in the study.
Patient Group 1
Hyperplasia (n = 3)
Thymitis (n = 3)
Involuted (n = 4)
Sex (F/M)
Age at disease onset (years) mean ± SD
Age at surgery (years) mean ± SD
Ab AChR-positive
2
3
4
Seronegative
1
0
0
Immunosuppressive therapy
2
2
4
Patient Group 2
Hyperplasia ()
Thymitis ()
Involuted ()
Sex (F/M)
5/1
5/1
4/1
Age at disease onset (years)a mean ± SD
Age at surgery (years) mean ± SD
Ab AChR-positive
6
4b
4
Seronegative
0
1
1
Immunosuppressive therapy
5c
4
5
Patient Group 3
Hyperplasia ()
Thymitis ()
Involuted ()
Sex (F/M)
8/1
4/1
3/2
Age at disease onset (years)d mean ± SD
Age at surgery (years) mean ± SD
Ab AChR-positive
6
4
5
Seronegative
3
1
0
Immunosuppressive therapy
3
4
5
aAge at disease onset was not available for two patients, one with hyperplasia and one with thymitis. bInformation on autoantibody presence in serum was not available in one patient. cData on the therapy before thymectomy were missing in one patient. dAge at disease onset was not available for two patients, one with hyperplasia and one with involuted thymus.