2016 Volume 17 Issue 3 Pages 211-217
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an auto-immune disorder caused by neuromuscular transmission failure, and is a representative post-neuromuscular junctional disorder. The most common auto-immune antibody is the anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody, which is detected in approximately 80 to 85% of MG patients. Recently, auto-immune antibodies against the muscle-specific receptor tyrosine kinase (MuSK) and the LDL-receptor related protein 4 (Lrp4) have also been found. The clinical symptoms and therapeutic responses are highly dependent on the types of auto-immune antibodies. Thymectomy is a common treatment for MG, although a recent meta-analysis on thymectomy did not show any clinical benefit. Several new immune-mediated therapies have become available and the therapeutic strategy is currently changing drastically. In the future, the establishment of a novel therapeutic strategy is expected for this disorder.
This article cannot obtain the latest cited-by information.
