Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease affecting the neuromuscular junction.

Question

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease affecting the neuromuscular junction. In myasthenia gravis, weakness occurs when the nerve impulse to initiate or sustain movement does not adequately reach the muscle cells. This is due to an autoimmune response in which immune cells target and attack the body's own cells. Antibodies are produced that attach to "affected areas", preventing muscle cells from receiving chemical messages (neurotransmitters) from the nerve cell. Using your knowledge of muscle contraction and how the nerve stimulation reaches the muscle cell, explain this disorder and how it interferes with contraction. What specific part of the muscle might the "affected area" be? Explain your choice. Would the administration of ACH or acetylcholinesterase possibly help the symptoms of this disease? Explain which one you think would help and why.

Explanation / Answer

Symptoms There is no known cure for myasthenia gravis . However , treatment may result in prolonged periods of remission.Lifestyle adjustments may enable continuation of many activities . Activity should be planned to allow scheduled rest periods . An eye patch may be recommended if double vision is bothersome . Double vision can also be a cause of eye muscles going awry--like the Myasthenia Gravis. so I hope the above gives you some info to ponder and research. Stress and excessive heat exposure should be avoided because they can worsen symptoms.Some medications , such as neostigmine or pyridostigmine , improve the communication between the nerve and the muscle . Prednisone and other medications that suppress the immune response -LRB- such as azathioprine , cyclosporine , or mycophenolate mofetil -RRB- may be used if symptoms are severe and there is inadequate response to other medications.Plasmapheresis , a technique in which blood plasma containing antibodies against the body is removed from the body and replaced with fluids -LRB- donated antibody - free plasma or other intravenous fluids -RRB- , may reduce symptoms for up to 4 - 6 weeks and is often used to optimize conditions before surgery.When other treatments do not improve systems , patients may receive intravenous immunoglobulin.Surgical removal of the thymus -LRB- thymectomy -RRB- may result in permanent remission or less need for medicines.Patients with eye problems may try lens prisms to improve vision . Surgery may also be performed on the eye muscles.Several medications may make symptoms worse and should be avoided . Therefore , it is always important to check with your doctor about the safety of a medication before taking it.Crisis situations , where muscle weakness involves the breathing muscles , may occur . These attacks seldom last longer than a few weeks . Hospitalization and assistance with breathing may be required during these attacks . Often plasmapheresis is used to help end the crisis . Treatment In myasthenia gravis , weakness occurs when the nerve impulse to initiate or sustain movement does not adequately reach the muscle cells . This is caused when immune cells target and attack the body 's own cells -LRB- an autoimmune response -RRB- . This immune response produces antibodies that attach to affected areas , preventing muscle cells from receiving chemical messages -LRB- neurotransmitters -RRB- from the nerve cell.The cause of autoimmune disorders such as myasthenia gravis is unknown . You're right, it is not a new drug and has been used to treat such disorders as myasthenia gravis. In some cases , myasthenia gravis may be associated with tumors of the thymus -LRB- an organ of the immune system -RRB- . Patients with myasthenia gravis have a higher risk of having other autoimmune disorders like thyrotoxicosis , rheumatoid arthritis , and systemic lupus erythematosus.Myasthenia gravis affects about 3 of every 10,000 people and can affect people at any age . It is most common in young women and older men . Causes Examination may be normal or may show muscle weakness that progressively worsens as the muscle is used . In many patients the eye muscles are affected first . Reflexes and sensation are normal . Weakness may affect the arms , legs , breathing or swallowing muscles , and any other muscle group.Repetitive stimulation -LRB- type of nerve conduction study -RRB- is more sensitive.Single - fiber EMG can be very sensitive.Acetylcholine receptor antibodies may be present in the blood.A Tensilon test is positive in some cases but must be interpreted carefully by an experienced doctor . My neurologist didn't find anything on the mri's and the emg found myasthenia gravis in the neuromuscular junction part of the test, idiopathic neuropathy in the nerve conduction test, and an unspecified muscular/ligament disease from the muscle test Baseline muscle strength is evaluated . After Tensilon -LRB- edrophonium , a medication that blocks the action of the enzyme that breaks down the transmitter acetylcholine -RRB- is given , muscle function may improve.The patient may need a CT or MRI scan of the chest to look for a possible tumor in the thyroid . Tests & diagnosis There is no cure , but long - term remission is possible . There may be minimal restriction on activity in many cases . Patients that only have eye symptoms -LRB- ocular myasthenia gravis -RRB- , may progress to have generalized myasthenia over time.Pregnancy is possible for a woman with myasthenia gravis but should be closely supervised . ive done tons of research and today i found a site about myasthenia gravis It is estimated that 10% of patients with myasthenia gravis have thymoma and 30% of patients with thymoma have myasthenia gravis. The baby may be temporarily weak and require medications for a few weeks after birth but usually does not develop the disorder . Prognosis Restrictions on lifestyle -LRB- possible -RRB-

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse M
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.