[Diagnostic aspects of myasthenia gravis]

Myasthenia gravis is described on the basis of both the physiological mechanisms of neuromuscular transmission and the current knowledge of the pathogenesis of the disease. The different laboratory tests in use are considered with regard to their diagnostic significance, in addition to the clinical features of the disease. Differential diagnosis has to include myasthenic syndromes of different origin, periodic paralysis, diseases of the peripheral motor neuron as well as certain myopathies.