What is Myasthenia Gravis? - Cause and Treatment
Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease manifested by attacks of muscle weakness due to the destruction of acetylcholine receptor mediated by antibody and cellular immunity. It is more common in young women and older men but may occur in every age group. The symptoms exacerbate the activity of the muscles, and the rest reduces them. Diagnosis is established by intravenous administration of edophonitis, which shortens muscle weakness shortly. It is treated with anticholinergics, immunosuppressants, corticosteroids, timectomy and plasma sores.
Myasthenia gravis occurs by autoimmune reaction to postsynaptic acetylcholine receptors which interrupts neuromuscular transmission. The autoantibodies trigger is unknown, but the disease is associated with thymus disorders, thyrotoxicosis, and other autoimmune diseases. The role of thymus in a more mystical gravis is unclear, but 65% of patients have hyperplasion of thymus, and 10% have a team. Precipitating factors are infections, surgical procedures and certain medications (eg aminoglycosides, quinine, magnesium sulphate, procainamide, calcium channel blockers).
Rare Forms: Optical myasthenia only affects the external eye muscles. Congenital myasthenia is a rare autosomal recessive disorder that begins in childhood, due to anatomic abnormalities in the postsynaptic receptor more often than due to an autoimmune disorder. Ophthalmoplegia is common.
Neonatal myasthenia affects 12% of newborns of women who have myasthenia gravis. It is caused by IgG antibodies that passively pass through the placenta. It causes generalized muscular weakness that decreases for several days or weeks as the antibody titer decreases. Treatment is most often supportive.