title: [Myasthenia gravis: treatments and remissions].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Unité nerf-muscle, Service de neurologie, CHUV, 1011 Lausanne. murielle.dunand@chuv.ch
authors.forename: Murielle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dunand
authors.forename: Patrice H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Lalive
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vokatch
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuntzer
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction