The reactivity of the antistriational antibodies associated with thymoma and myasthenia gravis.

Using immunofluorescence forty-nine sera giving striational staining of skeletal and cardiac muscle have been tested on glycerinated myofibrils. By comparing immunofluorescence and phase contrast it has been found that these antibodies are rather heterogeneous but at least three different staining patterns can be identified. Some patterns may be associated with the presence of a thymoma or may be induced by penicillamine treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Routine screening for antistriational antibodies may lead to the recognition of undiagnosed myasthenia gravis and thymoma. Antistriational autoantibodies may be useful in the further study of the structure and function of the sarcomere.