Myasthenia gravis Archives - The Medical Media Review

Myasthenia Gravis: The Workup

15 July, 20159 August, 2013 by Mark Yoffe, MD

Here’s a workup for suspected myasthenia gravis: Acetylcholine receptor antibody Muscle specific receptor tyrosine kinase (MuSK) antibody Chest CT (to look for thymoma) TSH (concomitant autoimmune thyroiditis is sometimes seen) Search for underlying infectious precipitants as guided by history (e.g., CBC, chest radiograph, urinalysis) Search for underlying concomitant metabolic derangements which may contribute to weakness … Read more

Weakness: An Approach

15 September, 201429 October, 2012 by Mark Yoffe, MD

As a first step, neuromuscular weakness should be distinguished from its mimics, which are: Mental fatigue bradykinesia Decreased range of motion Depression Movement limited by pain. “Abnormal fatigability of striated muscle is the cardinal manifestation of disorders of the neuromuscular junction. Exercise-dependent weakness often affects the extraocular muscles first, causing ptosis or diplopia, as the … Read more