The effect of immunosuppression or thymectomy on the response to tetanus revaccination in myasthenia gravis

Strijbos, E.; Dam, M.M.V.T.; Vervat, C.; Schilham, M.W.; Huijbers, M.G.M.; Tol, M.J.D. van; Verschuuren, J.J.G.M. (2022)

Article / Letter to editor

Objective: To determine the effect of tetanus toxoid (TT) revaccination on circulating B-, T-and NK-cell com-partments in myasthenia gravis (MG) patients.Methods: Lymphocyte (sub)populations and differentiation stages were assessed by flow cytometry in 50 TT revaccinated MG patients. TT-specific proliferative responses were explored in PBMC cultures. Results: In patients treated with azathioprine B-and NK cell numbers were strongly decreased. Lymphocyte (sub) populations remained unaffected upon TT revaccination. t All patients showed a significant TT-induced prolif-erative response.Conclusion: TT revaccination is effective in MG patients with stable disease irrespective of their thymectomy status and medication and does not alter the composition of the lymphocyte compartment.

• Vaccination
• Autoimmunity
• Myasthenia gravis
• T lymphocyte
• B lymphocyte
• NK cells
• Immunosuppression
• Thymectomy

• All authors: Strijbos, E.; Dam, M.M.V.T.; Vervat, C.; Schilham, M.W.; Huijbers, M.G.M.; Tol, M.J.D. van; Verschuuren, J.J.G.M.
• Date: 2022-09-15
• Journal: Journal of Neuroimmunology
• Volume: 370
• DOI: doi:10.1016/j.jneuroim.2022.577930
• Link: https://www.jni-journal.com/article/S0165-5728(22)00125-4/fulltext