Myasthenia gravis patients with low plasma IL-6 and IFN-gamma benefit from etanercept treatment

Abstract

Steroid-dependent myasthenia gravis patients improved following treatment with etanercept (recombinant human TNF receptor: Fc) in a prospective pilot trial. While the plasma anti -acetylcholine receptor antibody levels remained unaffected, etanercept treatment increased plasma levels of C3, circulating immune coniplexes, IL-10 and IFN-gamma. There was a direct correlation between plasma IL-6, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma levels and the post-treatment clinical scores of patients. Moreover, patients with lower pretreatment plasma IL-6 and IFN-gamma levels attained better clinical improvement following etanercept treatment. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.