An international panel of expert clinicians and leading scientists comprehensively review the clinical and basic science of this disease and its relatives, including acquired neuromytonia and Lambert-Eaton syndrome. For the clinician, the book describes the wide range of signs and symptoms that make these diseases difficult to diagnose, review in depth the available diagnostic methods and their limitations, offer practical treatment recommendations based on years of experience, and discuss several promising treatments now emerging. For the basic scientist, the text illuminates neuromuscular structure and function, describes in detail the acetylcholine receptor (the central target of pathology in myasthenia gravis), and illuminates the autoimmune pathogenesis.

Autoimmune myasthenia gravis (MG) is a classical autoimmune disease, for which the target antigen, nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, has been cloned, sequenced and biochemically characterized. Antibodies to acetylcholine receptors destroy acetylcholine receptor at the neuromuscular junction, thus leading to defective neuromuscular transmission, muscle fatigue, and weakness. In the last few years, rapid advances have been made in unraveling the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of MG, both in the animal model, experimental autoimmune MG (EAMG), and in human MG. Significant advances are being made in characterizing the cells and molecules involved in the autoimmune response to the acetylcholine receptor (AChR). These advances are leading to the development of specific methods of immunointervention in EAMG. Further understanding of the intricate involvement of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and non-MHC genes, T cell receptors (TCR), costimulator molecules, and specific cytokines in the afferent and efferent autoimmune response of AChR should pave the way to future antigen/clone-specific therapy of MG. This book is the outcome of the MG workshop proceedings in Mysore, India, 1998. The majority of the chapters in this book are contributed by world-renowned authors and their students. The book not only contains a timely review of specific topics, but also up-to-date findings. Immunologists and neurologists will find, in this volume, the latest in MG/EAMG cutting-edge research. Clinicians will be interested in the applications of the various immunointervention strategies into clinical trials in MG patients. Finally, students will not only be interested in reading the latest in EAMG/MG research, but will also find information to help them develop a future strategy to unravel the precise mechanism of disease. To summarize, in this book, the readers should find up-to-date information related to immunological mechanisms involved in MG pathogenesis and various modalities for possible approaches to immunointervention to treat MG.

Myasthenia Gravis and Myasthenic Disorders, Second Edition is a thoroughly re-written and updated version of the highly successful first edition published in 1999. Comprehensively written by leaders at the forefront of research, not to mention thoroughly referenced throughout and gorgeously illustrated, this new edition of the classic 1999 text will cement its place as the text on Myasthenia Gravis and related disorders for years to come.

Divided into twelve sections that cover the entirety of anesthetic practice, this is a case-based, comprehensive review of anesthesiology that covers the basics of anesthetic management and reflects all new guidelines and recently developed standards of care. Each chapter of Anesthesiology: Clinical Case Reviews begins with a specific clinical problem or a clinical case scenario, followed by concise discussions of preoperative assessment, intraoperative management, and postoperative pain management. In addition to residents and fellows, this book is written for practicing anesthesiologists, student nurse anesthetists, and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs).

Coping with Myasthenia Gravis is a self-improvement book inspired by the need to provide different perspectives to myasthenia gravis patients on how to deal with the challenges brought by the said disease. This important guide book introduces readers to the disease’s history, mechanism, and clinical features. It also shares some coping mechanisms that were discovered by patients. These information is not present in the medical textbooks and only patients can speak about their experiences.

Using his insight as a longtime physician, Dr. Ron Henderson describes the productive life he lives despite having a rare autoimmune disease known as myasthenia gravis (MG). He also provides a forum for three other MG patients to share their inspirational stories. A disease unfamiliar to many, myasthenia gravis means "grave muscle weakness" and causes severe weakness and loss of strength in voluntary muscles in various parts of the body. Often debilitating, MG falls into the category of "autoimmune" diseases, which all involve problems related to the immune system. Explaining MG symptoms, treatments, research, and disease-management tips, this book becomes a useful guide for MG patients, their families, and their physicians. And the book goes further. Using MG as an example, Dr. Henderson and others provide tips to all who suffer from chronic health problems for which there are treatments but no cures. Forced by MG to retire eight years ago as an obstetrician-gynecologist, Dr. Henderson now enjoys improved health but realizes he can never expect to be well unless a cure is found for MG. In this book, he announces plans to expand research into MG and other autoimmune disease through his founding of the International Autoimmune Disease Research Foundation.

Living with Myasthenia Gravis: The Struggle Is Real: This Is My Story By: C.M. Lewis Being diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, or MG for short, C.M. Lewis shares this true story of her experience with this invisible rare non-contagious autoimmune disease. Having this illness takes considerable strength, as it tirelessly attacks her body, but C.M. Lewis proves that she is a warrior and is motivational for those who may be experiencing this illness as well.