Effect of IgG immunoadsorption on serum cytokines in MG and LEMS patients

Abstract

We investigated the effect of IgG immunoadsorption (IA) on cytokine network in patients with treatment-resistant Myasthenia Gravis (MG) and Lambert-Eaton Syndrome (LEMS). We observed upregulation of interleukin (IL)-10, an anti-inflammatory and B cells growth factor, and reduction of pro-inflammatory factors such as IL-18 and IL-17, in both MG and LEMS after IA. Our observation suggests that the massive removal of antibodies might induce modifications of the cytokine balance linked to T and B cells mediated autoimmunity.