Myasthenia Gravis

Author: Ammar M Salem / Editor: Yasmin Sultan / Reviewer: Kaja Rasheed, Kathryn Blackmore / Code: A5 / Published: 06/09/2021

Description:

Myasthenia gravis does not present often to the Emergency Department. However, it can manifest as respiratory failure. The emergency physician should have a high index of suspicion for neuromuscular causes of respiratory failure, and the diagnosis needs to be considered in any case of unexplained respiratory failure.

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Describe the key pathophysiological changes in myasthenia gravis
• Recognise different clinical presentations of myasthenia gravis
• Explain a rational system for investigations in a patient with suspected myasthenia gravis
• Identify the important therapeutic modalities involved in the treatment of myasthenic crisis
• List conditions that may mimic myasthenia gravis

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