title: [Myasthenia gravis - optimal treatment and accurate diagnosis].
abstract: Around 700 people in Norway have myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disease that affects neuromuscular transmission and results in fluctuating weakness in some muscles as its sole symptom. The diagnosis is based on typical symptoms and findings, detection of antibodies and neurophysiological examination. Symptomatic treatment with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors is generally effective, but most patients also require immunosuppressive drug treatment. Antigen-specific therapy is being tested in experimental disease models.
authors.affiliation: Klinisk institutt 1 Universitetet i Bergen og Nevrologisk avdeling Haukeland universitetssykehus.
authors.forename: Nils Erik
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Gilhus
authors.affiliation: Nevrologisk avdeling Oslo universitetssykehus og Klinisk institutt Universitetet i Oslo.
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kerty
authors.affiliation: Nevro, hud- og revmatologisk avdeling Universitetssykehuset Nord-Norge og Institutt for klinisk medisin Universitetet i Tromsø - Norges arktiske universitet.
authors.forename: Sissel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Løseth
authors.affiliation: Klinisk institutt 1 Universitetet i Bergen og Nevrologisk avdeling Sørlandet sykehus og Avdeling for rehabilitering Sørlandet sykehus.
authors.forename: Åse
authors.initials: Å
authors.lastname: Mygland
authors.affiliation: Nevrologisk avdeling Oslo universitetssykehus og Klinisk institutt Universitetet i Oslo.
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tallaksen
mesh_terms: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D011247:Pregnancy; D013934:Thymectomy
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents