[Myasthenia gravis: treatments and remissions].
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease of the neuromuscular junction, due to the binding of autoantibodies to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR), or more rarely to a muscle specific kinase (MuSK). It affects most of the time young women and old patients, with a tendency toward increasing incidence and prevalence. Clinical presentation, with fluctuating weakness of ocular, facial and bulbar muscles has a wide range of severity. Evolution is characterized by remissions and exacerbations. The goal of treatment is a complete remission, which implies a sustained collaboration between the general practitioner and the specialized centre and the use of symptomatic treatment (anticholinesterasic) in association with immunomodulators/suppressors (prednisone and azathioprine); although other treatments are available.
Dunand
Murielle
M
Unité nerf-muscle, Service de neurologie, CHUV, 1011 Lausanne. murielle.dunand@chuv.ch
Lalive
Patrice H
PH
Vokatch
Natalia
N
Kuntzer
Thierry
T
D006801:Humans; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction