Myasthenia Gravis And Related Disorders

An international panel of expert clinicians and leading scientists comprehensively review the clinical and basic science of this disease and its relatives, including acquired neuromytonia and Lambert-Eaton syndrome. For the clinician, the book describes the wide range of signs and symptoms that make these diseases difficult to diagnose, review in depth the available diagnostic methods and their limitations, offer practical treatment recommendations based on years of experience, and discuss several promising treatments now emerging. For the basic scientist, the text illuminates neuromuscular structure and function, describes in detail the acetylcholine receptor (the central target of pathology in myasthenia gravis), and illuminates the autoimmune pathogenesis.

Advances in the study and understanding of myasthenia gravis have led to the need for the publication of this important new edition. The goal of Myasthenia Gravis and Related Disorders, Second Edition is identical to the first -- to provide the clinician and the scientist with a common resource for understanding this complex disorder. This new edition begins with discussions of neuromuscular junction structure and function and follows with updated chapters covering a wide range of topics, such as the acetylcholine receptor, clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment. Importantly, new supplemental chapters have been added; these discuss rigorous clinical assessments of patients for research trials and the epidemiology and genetics of myasthenia gravis. The discussion of the most challenging aspects of myasthenia gravis, its impact on patients’ psychological make-up, has been expanded as well. Myasthenia Gravis and Related Disorders, Second Edition retains the “personal approach” of the authors regarding treatment and is a valuable resource for meeting the many and varied needs of patients with myasthenia gravis.

Basic and clinical investigators have contributed reports to this volume in which they explore new findings in myasthenia gravis and related diseases, exploring topics in basic science, translational research, and clinical science, including advances in therapies and treatment strategies. Topics covered include the following: structure and function of the neuromuscular junction; communication between nerve and muscle; structure and function of the acetylcholine receptor; neuromuscular junction pathology; autoimmunity and signaling; immunology of autoimmune disorders involving the neuron and presynaptic nerve terminal; autoimmune pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis; clinical treatments including thymectomy; myasthenia gravis due to muscle-specific kinase antibodies. NOTE: Annals volumes are available for sale as individual books or as a journal. For information on institutional journal subscriptions, please visit www.blackwellpublishing.com/nyas. ACADEMY MEMBERS: Please contact the New York Academy of Sciences directly to place your order (www.nyas.org). Members of the New York Academy of Science receive full-text access to the Annals online and discounts on print volumes. Please visit www.nyas.org/membership/main.asp for more information about becoming a member.

Myasthenia Gravis and Myasthenic Disorders, Second Edition is a thoroughly re-written and updated version of the highly successful first edition published in 1999. Comprehensively written by leaders at the forefront of research, not to mention thoroughly referenced throughout and gorgeously illustrated, this new edition of the classic 1999 text will cement its place as the text on Myasthenia Gravis and related disorders for years to come.

This work on the neurosciences presents an update on normal physiological mechanisms at the neuromuscular junction, normal immune responses as these relate to auto-immunity, and pathogenic mechanisms responsible for myasthenia (the prototype human auto-immune disease), along with diagnostic and therapy information.