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. 2011 Jan;1(1):16-22.
doi: 10.1177/1941875210382918.

Myasthenic crisis

Linda C Wendell  1 , Joshua M Levine
Affiliations

Myasthenic crisis

Linda C Wendell et al. Neurohospitalist. 2011 Jan.

Abstract

Myasthenic crisis is a complication of myasthenia gravis characterized by worsening of muscle weakness, resulting in respiratory failure that requires intubation and mechanical ventilation. Advances in critical care have improved the mortality rate associated with myasthenic crisis. This article reviews the epidemiology of myasthenic crisis and discusses patient evaluation. Therapeutic options including mechanical ventilation and pharmacological and surgical treatments are also discussed.

Keywords: autoimmune diseases of the nervous system; myasthenia gravis; neurocritical care clinical specialty; neuromuscular disease clinical specialty.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interests with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

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