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 Concept Videos

Myasthenia Gravis: Overview and Treatment01:20

Myasthenia Gravis: Overview and Treatment

Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular transmission disorder characterized by weakness and increased fatigability of skeletal muscles. It is an autoimmune disease affecting approximately one in 2000 people, where antibodies against the α1 subunit of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are produced.
These antibodies interfere with the function of the nicotinic receptors in three ways: by binding to the receptor and disrupting acetylcholine binding; by causing cross-linking of receptors which leads...
Myasthenia Gravis ll: Pathophysiology01:22

Myasthenia Gravis ll: Pathophysiology

The disease process of myasthenia gravis begins at the neuromuscular junction, where antibodies attack key proteins needed for muscle activation. This immune reaction weakens signal transmission, leading to the characteristic muscle fatigue and weakness that define the condition.Immune-Mediated DamageIn most individuals, antibodies target acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) on the postsynaptic membrane of muscle cells. By blocking acetylcholine binding, these antibodies prevent the nerve signal...
Myasthenia Gravis: Diagnostic Tests01:15

Myasthenia Gravis: Diagnostic Tests

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune condition affecting neuromuscular transmission, causing generalized weakness in skeletal muscles. Initial diagnoses rely on patients' signs, symptoms, and medical history. The challenge lies in distinguishing myasthenia from other muscular dystrophies. An important diagnostic feature is the significant improvement of symptoms after administering anticholinesterase inhibitors.
The edrophonium test is a diagnostic tool for myasthenia gravis. It involves...
Disorders of the Skeletal Muscle01:28

Disorders of the Skeletal Muscle

The clinical conditions affecting the skeletal muscle tissue are broadly categorized as musculoskeletal and neuromuscular disorders.
Musculoskeletal disorders
Musculoskeletal disorders involve injuries and conditions affecting the skeletal muscles and associated connective tissues. These disorders can arise from acute biomechanical stresses or chronic overuse and can occur across different age groups. Common injuries include sprains, fractures, and muscular strains, often resulting from...
Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Decoding splicing variants in high-throughput sequencing: a functional validation approach integrating deep learning tools.

European journal of human genetics : EJHG·2026
Same author

Development and Validation of the 3PDQ: A Self-Reported Questionnaire for Diagnosing Primary Pain in Parkinson's Disease.

Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society·2026
Same author

Distinct Brain Drivers and Shared Cerebello-Cortical Input in ADCY5 and SGCE Hyperkinetic Movements.

Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society·2026
Same author

High risk of hypoxemic COVID-19 pneumonia in myasthenia gravis patients with type I IFN autoantibodies.

medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences·2026
Same author

Is being asymmetric a bad thing? Insights from a longitudinal observational study on STN-DBS Parkinson's disease.

Parkinsonism & related disorders·2026
Same author

No role of intronic expansions in HSF1 for essential tremor in Europe.

Brain : a journal of neurology·2026
Same journal

[Prolonged fever].

La Revue du praticien·2026
Same journal

[Lower gastrointestinal bleeding].

La Revue du praticien·2026
Same journal

[Management of antiplatelet agents and oral anticoagulants in cases of gastrointestinal bleeding].

La Revue du praticien·2026
Same journal

[A history of child abuse intervention in the West].

La Revue du praticien·2026
Same journal

[Agranulocytose médicamenteuse].

La Revue du praticien·2026
Same journal

[Patient education in heart failure].

La Revue du praticien·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Antigenic Liposomes for Generation of Disease-specific Antibodies
10:31

Antigenic Liposomes for Generation of Disease-specific Antibodies

Published on: October 25, 2018

[Myasthenia gravis].

Marie-Céline Fleury1, Christine Tranchant

  • 1Service de neurologie, Hôpitaux universitaires, 67091 Strasbourg Cedex, France.

La Revue Du Praticien
|February 13, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder affecting neuromuscular junctions, characterized by fluctuating muscle weakness. Diagnosis involves clinical assessment, antibody tests, and nerve stimulation, with treatments ranging from medications to thymectomy.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Antigenic Liposomes for Generation of Disease-specific Antibodies
10:31

Antigenic Liposomes for Generation of Disease-specific Antibodies

Published on: October 25, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Immunology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Myasthenia gravis is a rare autoimmune neuromuscular junction disorder.
  • It involves autoantibodies attacking acetylcholine receptors (AChR) at the postsynaptic membrane, leading to muscle weakness.
  • Prevalence is approximately 50 per 1,000,000 people.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of myasthenia gravis.
  • To detail diagnostic approaches and treatment strategies for this condition.

Main Methods:

  • Clinical diagnosis based on transient, activity-exacerbated weakness affecting various muscle groups.
  • Diagnostic tests include serologic antibody detection (e.g., anti-AChR antibodies).
  • Repetitive nerve stimulation to assess decrement of muscle action potential and chest CT for thymus abnormalities.

Main Results:

  • Autoantibodies, primarily against AChR, are key to the disease pathogenesis.
  • Weakness can be generalized or focal (e.g., ocular myasthenia) and varies in course.
  • Thymus abnormalities are frequently associated with myasthenia gravis.

Conclusions:

  • Myasthenia gravis diagnosis relies on a combination of clinical findings and specific tests.
  • Treatment options include cholinesterase inhibitors, immunosuppressants, and in severe cases, IVIg or plasma exchange.
  • Thymectomy is considered for patients with thymus abnormalities.