Myasthenia Gravis & Acetylcholine Flashcards
Symptoms of Myasthenia Gravis
Worsening weakness with repetitive action of muscle.
Pathiophysiology of MG
This happens when patients have autoantibodies to the acetylcholine receptor, which diminishes the effectiveness of the acetylcholine in the neuromuscular junction with repetitive firing.
REDUCING EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ACETYLCHOLINE
What is Acetylcholine?
It is involved in the preservation go memory, arousal and sense of reward in the central nervous system.
Describe the relationship between Acetlycholine and Alzheimers?
Loss of ability to produce ACh is part of the pathogenesis of Alzheimers.
Main feature of MG
Muscle Fatiguability
Treatment of MG
Pyridostigmine and prednisolone
A 40-year-old woman is referred to the Neurology clinic by her GP.
The patient has been having visual difficulties such as double vision and blurred vision for the past few weeks.
She reports the symptoms get worse towards the end of the day and has no other symptoms.
Her husband says she looks more and more tired every evening when she comes home.
On examination, there are no cranial nerve abnormalities. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
Myasthenia Gravis
A 64-year-old male patient on the ward complains of bilateral ptosis and double vision that is worse at the end of the day. He was admitted for aspiration pneumonia for which he is currently on antibiotics.
He has a past medical history of Grave’s disease and type 1 diabetes.
On further questioning, he reports he has been feeling weaker over the last few months.
He struggles to maintain up-gaze on examination.
WHAT DOES HIS HAVE?
Myasthenia Gravis
Most appropriate investigation for confirming Myasthenia Gravis?
Test for Anti-ACh receptor antibodies
