title: Myasthenia gravis: emerging new therapy options.
abstract: Myasthenia gravis is probably the most thoroughly understood of all human autoimmune diseases. The basic mechanism of the disease is an antibody-mediated autoimmune attack that decreases the acetylcholine receptor density at the neuromuscular junction. Current therapies aim to restore the available acetylcholine receptors, deplete the autoantibodies or suppress the immune system. Prolonged drug treatment is required, but this carries a potential risk of severe adverse effects. Therefore, the ideal treatment for myasthenia would eliminate the abnormal autoimmune response without interfering with the immune system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Geriatrics and Palliative Care, General Hospital, Grosse Parower St 47-53, Stralsund, 18410 Germany. j.sieb@klinikum-stralsund.de
authors.forename: Joern P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Sieb
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D000069283:Rituximab; D013934:Thymectomy
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069283:Rituximab; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D001379:Azathioprine