Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Does myasthenia gravis affect the brain?

J C Keesey1

  • 1Department of Neurology, UCLA School of Medicine, 300 UCLA Medical Plaza, B200, Los Angeles, CA, USA. jkeesey@ucla.edu

Journal of the Neurological Sciences
|November 24, 1999
PubMed
Summary

Myasthenia gravis (MG) likely does not directly affect the central nervous system (CNS). Sleep and cognitive issues in MG patients may stem from peripheral factors like respiratory weakness and hypoxia, not CNS cholinergic effects.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Myasthenia gravis: recommendations for clinical research standards. Task Force of the Medical Scientific Advisory Board of the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America.

The Annals of thoracic surgery·2000
Same author

Myasthenia gravis: recommendations for clinical research standards. Task Force of the Medical Scientific Advisory Board of the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America.

Neurology·2000
Same author

Contemporary opinions about Mary Walker: a shy pioneer of therapeutic neurology.

Neurology·1998
Same author

Thymus, antibodies, and myasthenia.

Neurology·1992
Same author

Intravenous gamma-globulin for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and myasthenia gravis.

The Western journal of medicine·1991
Same author

Eye muscles in myasthenia gravis.

Neurology·1991

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Neuroimmunology
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Myasthenia gravis (MG) has been historically linked to central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction, including psychiatric disorders, epilepsy, and EEG abnormalities.
  • Previous theories suggested CNS cholinergic effects were due to anticholinesterase treatments or antibodies to muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically evaluate the evidence for direct CNS involvement in myasthenia gravis.
  • To explore alternative explanations for neurological and psychological symptoms observed in MG patients.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on MG and CNS function.
  • Analysis of proposed mechanisms linking MG to CNS abnormalities, including cholinergic pathways and antibody effects.
  • Consideration of peripheral factors such as respiratory muscle weakness and hypoxia.

Main Results:

  • Evidence for direct CNS cholinergic effects in MG is unconvincing due to antigenic differences and low antibody concentrations in CSF.
  • Abnormalities in evoked responses and sleep disturbances are more likely due to peripheral mechanisms, including hypoxia from respiratory muscle weakness.
  • EEG abnormalities may be linked to hypoxia, and epilepsy association might be coincidental or due to uncontrolled MG.

Conclusions:

  • The proposed direct CNS involvement in myasthenia gravis is not well-supported by current evidence.
  • Peripheral factors, particularly respiratory muscle weakness and associated hypoxia, are more plausible explanations for CNS-related symptoms in MG.
  • Optimizing respiratory muscle strength and managing psychological aspects are crucial for improving overall well-being in MG patients.

Related Experiment Videos