Myasthenia gravis : note
• Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease in which the function of the junction between motor nerves and skeletal muscle is affected.
• Myasthenia gravis occur when antibodies attack the acetylcholine receptors at the skeletal neuromuscular junction and therefore acetylcholine fails
to bind to them. The condition results in muscle weakness, particularly of the eye, lips, throat, tongue, neck and
shoulders.
• Movement will be limited when the
limb muscles are affected, making any repetitive action, for example in lifting, running, walking and climbing stairs,
difficult to sustain. Vision will also be affected.
• Drug treatments include the use of anticholinesterase agents (such as
neostigmine and
pyridostigmine) in conjunction with an antimuscarinic drug (such as atropine).
- Prepared by: Dr. Mohamed Abdel Rahman (pharmacist).
- Resources: - Clinical physiology and pharmacology,Farideh Javid and Janice McCurrie 2008.
- Copyrights: All rights are reserved for pharmacist development group 2009 - 2011.
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