Comparison between high and low groups of reduction rate of AChR antibody levels
| High (n=30) | Low (n=23) | P value | |
| Age at onset (year) | 63 (23–83) | 56 (14–75) | 0.03* |
| Sex (male: female) | 13: 17 | 9: 14 | 0.76 |
| MGFA classification at initial visit | 2 (1–5) 2.4±0.9 | 2 (1–5) 1.8±0.9 | 0.004** |
| MGFA classification at second measurement of AChR antibody level | 2 (0–5) 1.7±1.2 | 2 (0–2) 1.6±0.6 | 0.59 |
| ELT classification (n) | 1: 19: 10 | 9: 6: 8 | 0.002** |
| MG-ADL score at initial visit | 7 (3–18) 8.3±4.4 | 5 (2–10) 5.1±2.6 | 0.008** |
| MG-ADL score at second measurement of AChR antibody level | 2 (0–10) 2.6±2.4 | 4 (0–6) 3.5±1.8 | 0.05* |
| MG-ADL score at 1 year after immunosuppressive treatment | 1 (0–4) 1.3±1.6 | 2 (0–9) 2.5±2.3 | 0.04* |
| Δ MG-ADL score‡ | 6 (−5–14) 5.4±4.1 | 1 (−3–8) 1.7±3.1 | 0.0009*** |
| AChR antibody level at initial visit (nmol/L) | 65 (1.1–1100) 100±194 | 39 (5.2–300) 68±82 | 0.29 |
| AChR antibody level at the second measurement (nmol/L) | 18 (0–730) 43±131 | 28 (3–960) 109±223 | 0.02* |
| AChR antibody level at 1 year after immunosuppressive treatment (nmol/L) | 6.9 (0–460) 26±83 | 12 (1.5–550) 73±152 | 0.07 |
| MM or better status 1 year after immunosuppressive treatment (n) | 27(90%) | 15(65%) | 0.03* |
| Initial oral PSL dose (mg/day) | 10 (5–50) 14±12 | 5 (5–50) 10±11 | 0.02* |
| Daily oral PSL dose 1 year after immunosuppressive treatment (mg/day) | 8 (0–33) 8±6 | 13 (0–50) 16±15 | 0.03* |
| Maximum oral PSL dose 1 year after immunosuppressive treatment (mg/day) | 30 (0–50) 29±17 | 25 (0–55) 23±17 | 0.26 |
| Immunosuppressive treatment (only oral PSL: only tacrolimus: PSL + tacrolimus) (n) | 18: 2: 10 | 9: 2: 12 | 0.32 |
Data are given as median (full range) or number (percentage), and mean±SD.
*p < 0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001.
‡ΔMG-ADL score was calculated as (MG-ADL score at initial visit) – (MG-ADL score at second measurement of AChR antibody level)
AChR, acetylcholine receptor; ELT, early-onset, late-onset, thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis; MG-ADL, myathenia gravis activity of daily living; MGFA, Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America; MM, minimal manifestation; PSL, prednisolone.