[Myasthenia gravis - optimal treatment and accurate diagnosis]

Around 700 people in Norway have myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disease that affects neuromuscular transmission and results in fluctuating weakness in some muscles as its sole symptom. The diagnosis is based on typical symptoms and findings, detection of antibodies and neurophysiological examination. Symptomatic treatment with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors is generally effective, but most patients also require immunosuppressive drug treatment. Antigen-specific therapy is being tested in experimental disease models.