A Neurologist's Perspective on Understanding Myasthenia Gravis: Clinical Perspectives of Etiologic Factors, Diagnosis, and Preoperative Treatment

Loulwah Mukharesh; Henry J Kaminski

doi:10.1016/j.thorsurg.2018.12.002

A Neurologist's Perspective on Understanding Myasthenia Gravis: Clinical Perspectives of Etiologic Factors, Diagnosis, and Preoperative Treatment

Thorac Surg Clin. 2019 May;29(2):133-141. doi: 10.1016/j.thorsurg.2018.12.002. Epub 2019 Mar 7.

Authors

Loulwah Mukharesh¹, Henry J Kaminski²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, George Washington University, 2150 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
² Department of Neurology, George Washington University, 2150 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20037, USA. Electronic address: hkaminski@mfa.gwu.edu.

PMID: 30927994
DOI: 10.1016/j.thorsurg.2018.12.002

Abstract

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a disease of neuromuscular transmission caused by antibodies directed toward proteins concentrated at the neuromuscular junction. Mild to life-threatening weakness varies in severity over time and with level of activity. Therefore, clinical diagnosis is often challenging. MG may be categorized by autoantibody type, thymic pathologic condition, and age of onset. Treatments are tailored for each group. A key management concern is severe exacerbation of weakness resulting from infections or exposure to certain medications, including antibiotics, which may be severe enough to produce respiratory decompensation. The article reviews key diagnostic issues and treatment options.

Keywords: Autoimmune disease; Myasthenia gravis; Neuromuscular junction; Thymectomy.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Autoantibodies / blood
Electromyography
Humans
Myasthenia Gravis / diagnosis*
Myasthenia Gravis / etiology
Myasthenia Gravis / therapy*
Receptors, Cholinergic / immunology
Thymectomy

Substances

Autoantibodies
Receptors, Cholinergic