Clinical use: The diagnosis and monitoring of Myasthenia gravis.
Raised levels of antibody are seen in 88% of patients with active Myasthenia gravis, 58% of patients in remission, and in 68% of patients with the restricted Ocular myasthenia. Although not univerally related to disease activity, antibody levels may be used to assess the effectiveness of plasma exchange therapy.
Sample requirement: 2 mL serum.
Reference range: Results are expressed in terms of a -bungarotoxin bound by the autoantibody, values up to 2 nmol/L are considered as normal.
Centres offering this assay:
London St George’s Hospital PRU Diagnostic Service
Sheffield Northern General’s PRU Diagnostic Service