The Role of the Thymus in Myasthenia Gravis

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Total Enrollment

20 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2007-08-31

Study Completion Date

2012-12-31

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

Although the association between thymic hyperplasia / thymoma and autoimmune myasthenia gravis has been known for some time, the question of causality remains uncertain. Recent research findings indicate, however, that especially in myasthenia patients with thymomas a non-physiological export of naive CD4 + T-cells can take place by the tumour and this could possibly play an important role in the pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis. The investigators want to analyse the functionality and specificity of t-cells generated in thymomas as well as the effect of thymectomy on the immune system.

Related Clinical Trials

Explore similar clinical trials based on study characteristics and research focus.

Variables Predicting Reintubation After Thymectomy in Patients With Myasthenia Gravis

NCT03597373

Myasthenia Gravis

UNKNOWN

Thymectomy Trial in Non-Thymomatous Myasthenia Gravis Patients Receiving Prednisone Therapy

NCT00294658

Myasthenia Gravis

COMPLETED PHASE3

Tissue Repository for Studies of Myasthenia Gravis

NCT02902536

Myasthenia Gravis

COMPLETED

Telitacicept and Low-dose Steroids in Refractory Myasthenia Gravis

NCT06723548

Myasthenia Gravis Autoimmune Diseases

NOT_YET_RECRUITING PHASE4

Congenital Athymia Patient Registry

NCT05329935

Complete DiGeorge Anomaly Complete DiGeorge Syndrome Congenital Athymia

RECRUITING

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

On one hand we want to perform a detailed analysis of the T-cells generated in thymomas in terms of their functional capacity and their specificity. We will analyse blood and thymoma tissue of patients with myasthenia gravis with thymona, patients with myasthenia gravis without thymona, and patients with thymona without myasthenia gravis.

Hypothesis: The T-cells which are generated in the thymoma in thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis can be differentiated from T-cells which are generated in normal thymoma tissue with regard to functionality and T-cell receptor specificity. This non-physiological T-cell maturation might be the cause for the formation of auto-antibodies.

On the other hand we want to examine the effects of thymectomy on the immune system in the context of myasthenia gravis. We will analyse blood and thymoma tissue of patients with myasthenia gravis with thymona, patients with myasthenia gravis without thymona, patients with thymona without myasthenia gravis and patients with cardiac, or thyroid surgery.

Hypothesis:

1. Thymectomy in patients with myasthenia gravis leads to a reduced number of auto-reactive, e.g. Acetylcholine receptor (ACh-R)-specific T cells. In contrast, T-cells with other specifities, for example against CMV or tetanus, are not affected.
2. The non-physiological export of thymocytes from thymomas leads to a significant shift in leukocyte populations in peripheral blood.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Myasthenia Gravis Thymoma

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Observational Model Type

CASE_CONTROL

Study Time Perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Myasthenia gravis with thymoma

No interventions assigned to this group

Myasthenia gravis without thymoma

No interventions assigned to this group

Thymoma without Myasthenia gravis

No interventions assigned to this group

cardiac, or thyroid surgery

No interventions assigned to this group

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Patients with compelling indications for thymectomy due to thymoma (with or without myasthenia gravis), Or
* Patients with elective indication for thymectomy due to thymoma without myasthenia gravis
* Patients with indication for a heart or thyroid surgery, in which for op-technical reasons, a (partial) resection of the thymus is performed.
* Signed informed consent form
* Age \> 17 Years