Myasthenia gravis. Update on diagnosis and therapy

Abstract

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease caused by the presence of specific antibodies targeting different postsynaptic components of the neuromuscular junction, and is clinically characterized by the presence of fatigueable muscle weakness. In the etiopathogenesis plays a central role the thymus and the most frequently detected pathogenic autoantibodies are targeted to the acetylcholine receptor. The increase in the knowledge of the immunological components of the neuromuscular junction in the last two decades has been fundamental to identify new pathogenic antibodies, reduce the percentage of patients with seronegative myasthenia, and propose a classification of patients into subgroups with clinical-therapeutic interest. In addition, in recent years, new drugs have been developed for the treatment of patients with myasthenia gravis that are refractory to conventional immunosuppressive treatment.

Keywords: Acetylcholine receptor; Autoantibodies; Autoanticuerpos; Immunotherapy; Inmunoterapia; Miastenia gravis; Myasthenia gravis; Neuromuscular junction; Receptor de acetilcolina; Thymus; Timo; Unión neuromuscular.