[Intensive care in myasthenic and cholinergic crises]

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Immunology
• Critical Care Medicine

Context:

• Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease.
• Critical care management is essential for myasthenic and cholinergic crises.
• Understanding disease pathogenesis is key to effective treatment.

Purpose:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of myasthenia gravis epidemiology, etiology, and pathogenesis.
• To describe diagnostic methods and the clinical presentation of critical states.
• To outline current and novel therapeutic strategies for myasthenic crises.

Summary:

• Epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and critical states of myasthenia gravis are presented.
• Treatment modalities include plasmapheresis with hormone therapy, high-dose corticosteroids, and intravenous immunoglobulin infusions.
• Guidelines for artificial ventilation, tracheostomy, and contraindicated medications are discussed.

Impact:

• Modern therapeutic approaches have drastically reduced mortality rates in severe myasthenia gravis.
• This review offers a consolidated resource for clinicians managing myasthenia gravis crises.
• Highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in optimizing patient outcomes.