Myasthenia Gravis and Pregnancy
Abstract
Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease affecting nearly one million individuals worldwide. Myasthenia gravis develops due to antibodies against the nicotinic acetylcholine receptoror othe r postsynaptic antigens. Hyperplasia and tumours of the thymus can cause the abnormal production of these autoantibodies. Diagnosis of myasthenia gravis could be made through recognition of the cardinal clinical features of fatigable, painless muscle weakness with confirmatory serum autoantibody analysis and electromyographic evidence of disordered neuromuscular transmission, thereby excluding other differential diagnoses. Symptomatic improvement may be achieved through the use of anticholinesterase drugs, although usually immune-directed treatments are required to control the disease. The disease does not affect fertility in women and patients can have children. In this paper management to pregnant myasthenia gravis patients will be discussed in detail.
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