Neuromuscular Junction Disorders

This resource covers all aspects of the diagnosis and clinical management of patients with diseases of the neuromuscular junction. It breaks down each disease by pathophysiology, clinical presentation and natural history and course for improved diagnosis and treatment.

Comprehensive, thoroughly updated, and expanded, Neuromuscular Disorders in Clinical Practice, Second Edition encompasses all disorders of the peripheral nervous system, covering all aspects of neuromuscular diseases from diagnosis to treatment. Mirroring the first book, this two-volume edition is divided into two parts. Part one discusses the approach to neuromuscular disorders, covering principles and basics, neuromuscular investigations, and assessment and treatment of neurological disorders. Part two then addresses the complete range of specific neuromuscular diseases: neuronopathies, peripheral neuropathies, neuromuscular junction disorders, muscle ion channel disorders, myopathies, and miscellaneous neuromuscular disorders and syndromes. Neuromuscular Disorders in Clinical Practice, Second Edition is intended to serve as a comprehensive text for both novice and experienced practitioners. General neurologists as well as specialists in neuromuscular medicine and trainees in neuromuscular medicine, clinical neurophysiology and electromyography should find this book inclusive, comprehensive, practical and highly clinically focused. Additionally, specialists in physical medicine and rehabilitation, rheumatology, neurosurgery, and orthopedics will find the book of great value in their practice.

This issue of Neurologic Clinics, edited by Dr. Mazen M. Dimachkie and Dr. Richard J. Barohn, focuses on Neuromuscular Junction Disorders. Topics include--but are not limited to--History of myasthenia gravis and neuromuscular junction disorders; Practical immunology of the neuromuscular junction; Practical anatomy of the neuromuscular junction in health and disease; Generalized myasthenia gravis; Ocular myasthenia gravis; Diagnosis of myasthenia gravis; MuSK and myasthenia gravis due to other autoantibodies; Treatment of myasthenia gravis; Evidenced-based approach of thymectomy for myasthenia gravis; Myasthenia gravis and pregnancy; Congenital myasthenic syndromes; Botulism; Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome; and Measuring clinical treatment response in myasthenia gravis.

Neuromuscular disorders are diagnosed across the lifespan and create many challenges especially with infants, children and adolescents. This new edition of the definitive reference, edited by the established world renowned authorities on the science, diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular disorders in childhood is a timely and needed resource for all clinicians and researchers studying neuromuscular disorders, especially in childhood. The Second Edition is completely revised to remain current with advances in the field and to insure this remains the standard reference for clinical neurologists and clinical research neurologists. The Second Edition retains comprehensive coverage while shortening the total chapter count to be an even more manageable and effective reference. Carefully revised new edition of the classic reference on neuromuscular disorders in infancy, childhood and adolescence. Definitive coverage of the basic science of neuromuscular disease and the latest diagnosis and treatment best practices. Includes coverage of clinical phenomenology, electrophysiology, histopathology, molecular genetics and protein chemistry

Neuromuscular Function and Disorders focuses on the various processes underlying disordered neuromuscular function. Topics covered include the nature of membrane defects in myotonia and familial periodic paralysis; the disorder of neuromuscular transmission responsible for myasthenia gravis and the various pseudo-myasthenic syndromes; and the disorders of Schwann cell function which cause demyelination. This book is comprised of 28 chapters divided into two sections and begins with a discussion on the normal anatomy and physiology of peripheral nerve and muscle. Included in the first section are descriptions of the ionic mechanisms responsible for the resting and action potentials of nerve and muscle; the sequential stages in neuromuscular transmission; excitation-contraction coupling; the sliding filament mechanism of myofibrillar shortening; and the morphological and functional properties of motor units. The neurophysiology of exercise and muscle fatigue is also considered, along with the nature of the trophic influences exerted by the motoneuron and muscle fiber upon each other. The second half of the book deals entirely with various diseases of peripheral nerve and muscle, together with diagnostic procedures and therapeutic management. A consistent theme in this section is the recognition of neural abnormalities in diseases hitherto considered as primary disorders of the muscle fiber. This monograph should be of value to neurologists, medical students, research workers, and students and research scientists in physiology, zoology, pharmacology, kinesiology, and physical education.

In this unique book, Dr. Bertorini guides you through more than 100 cases that demonstrate the diagnosis and management of a wide range of common and rare neuromuscular disorders. No other reference boasts such a large array of clinical studies devoted to all areas of this broad topic! Each case study reviews the etiologies, pathogenesis, differential diagnosis, and management of a particular disorder, helping you not only recognize its presentation, but also determine a diagnosis and the best treatment plans for your patients. You’ll also find expert guidance on the basic mechanisms of neuromuscular disorders, clinical examination, and diagnostic tests—including EMG, muscle biopsy, genetic testing, and more. More than 100 detailed case studies explore both common and rare neuromuscular disorders and the treatment protocols for each, equipping you with the knowledge you need to confidently manage any challenge. Each case includes a summary of important points or highlights of the study. Case studies are arranged either by complaint or by diagnosis so that you can successfully manage your patients with or without an initial diagnosis. Comprehensive coverage of EMGs and nerve conduction studies and other diagnostic tests, including muscle and nerve biopsies and genetic testing, helps you accurately diagnose nerve, muscle, and neuromuscular transmission disorders. Detailed discussions of treatment plans and commonly used drugs enhance your management of autoimmune disorders, painful neuropathy, dysautonomia, and other neuromuscular disorders. A reader-friendly format takes you step by step through the diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular disorders, from the basic anatomy and physiology of the nerve and muscle through to clinical evaluation, diagnostic testing, and therapy. More than 350 high-quality illustrations, including full-color patient photographs, biopsies, and EMG tracings, make complex concepts easier to understand and apply.