[Histocompatibility antigens in childhood myasthenia].

In a group of 55 myasthenic children 21 HLA antigens locus A and B were determined. The frequency of the HLA-B8 antigen was found to be significantly higher in childhood myasthenia as compared with control group. This correlation was not found in ocular myasthenia in children. Determination of HLA antigens in childhood myasthenia may facilitate the diagnosis and prognosis and predict the further course of the disease in cases in which the disease begins with symptoms of fatigability of oculomotor muscles.