Myasthenia gravis: Steroid-Induced Effects on Lymphocyte Subpopulations in Myasthenia gravis

Lymphocyte subpopulations from patients with myasthenia gravis were evaluated during chronic steroid therapy. A marked lymphocytopenia (10-70%) was initially (day 3-21) noticed as well as a preferential depletion of thymus-derived cells which paralleled the clinical deterioration. Thus there was a relative increase in B cells, although their absolute number remained rather constant. These changes were reverted within 2-4 weeks in spite of …