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Journal of Neurology
Published in: Journal of Neurology 4/2016

Open Access 01-04-2016 | Neurological Update

Myasthenia gravis: a clinical-immunological update

Authors: Sophie Binks, Angela Vincent, Jacqueline Palace

Published in: Journal of Neurology | Issue 4/2016

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Abstract

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is the archetypic disorder of both the neuromuscular junction and autoantibody-mediated disease. In most patients, IgG1-dominant antibodies to acetylcholine receptors cause fatigable weakness of skeletal muscles. In the rest, a variable proportion possesses antibodies to muscle-specific tyrosine kinase while the remainder of seronegative MG is being explained through cell-based assays using a receptor-clustering technique and, to a lesser extent, proposed new antigenic targets. The incidence and prevalence of MG are increasing, particularly in the elderly. New treatments are being developed, and results from the randomised controlled trial of thymectomy in non-thymomatous MG, due for release in early 2016, will be of particular clinical value. To help navigate an evidence base of varying quality, practising clinicians may consult new MG guidelines in the fields of pregnancy, ocular and generalised MG (GMG). This review focuses on updates in epidemiology, immunology, therapeutic and clinical aspects of GMG in adults.
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Metadata
Title
Myasthenia gravis: a clinical-immunological update
Authors
Sophie Binks
Angela Vincent
Jacqueline Palace
Publication date
01-04-2016
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Journal of Neurology / Issue 4/2016
Print ISSN: 0340-5354
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1459
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-015-7963-5

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