Lower BAFF Levels in Myasthenic Patients Treated with Glucocorticoids

AbstractB-cell activating factor (BAFF), a member of tumor necrosis factor family, activates B cells, promotes their survival and proliferation. BAFF is considered to have an influence on development of autoimmune diseases including myasthenia gravis (MG). We aimed to evaluate BAFF serum levels in MG patients, their potential connection with therapy and course of MG. Cross-sectional study. Two hundred eighteen adult patients with MG (67% women, age: 18 –89 years, 82.6% AChR antibody seropositive (AChRAb(+)). Serum BAFF levels, their relationship with severity of clinical symptoms, therapy conducted, clinical and demographic features and other factors were analyzed. Patients with AChRAb(+) MG demonstrated significantly higher BAFF levels than Mu SK-MG patients (831.2 ± 285.4 pg/ml vs. 745.6 ± 633.4 pg/ml, respectively;p = 0.030). Serum BAFF levels in women were significantly higher than in men (855.9 ± 302.5 vs. 756.6 ± 289.4, respectively;p = 0.017). Mean serum BAFF level was significantly decreased in patients who were ever treated with corticosteroids (CS) (770.4 ± 327.8 pg/ml vs. 891.3 ± 246.1 pg/ml, respectively;p = 0.001). Thymoma-MG patients demonstrated significantly lower BAFF levels (671.2 ± 244.9 vs. 833.5 ± 302.4, respectively;p = 0.044). Thymectomized patients did not differ in BAFF levels from the MG patients who had not undergone thymectomy. In multiple linear regression model, recent CS therapy and ...
Source: Archivum Immunologiae et Therapiae Experimentalis - Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research