Generalized Myasthenia Gravis: Classification, Clinical Presentation, Natural History, and Epidemiology

Michael K Hehir; Nicholas J Silvestri

doi:10.1016/j.ncl.2018.01.002

Generalized Myasthenia Gravis: Classification, Clinical Presentation, Natural History, and Epidemiology

Neurol Clin. 2018 May;36(2):253-260. doi: 10.1016/j.ncl.2018.01.002.

Authors

Michael K Hehir¹, Nicholas J Silvestri²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurosciences, Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, University of Vermont, 1 South Prospect Street, Burlington, VT 05401, USA. Electronic address: Michael.hehir@uvmhealth.org.
² Department of Neurology, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, 1010 Main Street, Buffalo, New York 14202, USA.

PMID: 29655448
DOI: 10.1016/j.ncl.2018.01.002

Abstract

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a rare disease, but the most common disorder of the neuromuscular junction. It is the prototypic autoimmune disease most commonly caused by antibodies to the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) leading to characteristic fatigable weakness of the ocular, bulbar, respiratory, axial, and limb muscles. The majority of patients with MG first present with ocular symptoms. Most patients with MG will experience at least 1 exacerbation of symptoms throughout the course of their illness. This article will cover the epidemiology, clinical presentation, classification, and natural history of MG.

Keywords: Acetylcholine receptor; Antimuscle-specific kinase; Myasthenia gravis; Occular.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Myasthenia Gravis* / classification
Myasthenia Gravis* / diagnosis
Myasthenia Gravis* / epidemiology