[Modern approach to the diagnosis and therapy of myasthenia gravis]

Only two decades ago myasthenia gravis (MG) has been considered to be a severe neuromuscular disease with a very high mortality rate. Contemporary diagnostic and therapeutic approach resulted in standardized methodology for clinical management of myasthenia gravis. As an example, we present a case of generalized MG in a 22-year-old female patient. The diagnosis was based on the results of characteristic clinical, pharmacologic and electrophysiologic tests. Preoperative treatment with anticholinesterase drugs, thymectomy and postoperative course of the disease are presented. The importance of the thymus pathology and immunological serum abnormalities is emphasized. The results of this kind of clinical approach are compared with the published experience of other neurological groups.