Question

Pathophysiology of myesthenia gravis and the reason that it leads to muscle weakness, possible treatments for the disorder and describe how they work.

Answer 1

myesthenia gravis is a neuromasclar disorder which results in weakness ofl skeletal muscle. This is an example of autoimmune disease and in this situation an antibody will prevent the or degrade the acetylcholine receptors which are present in the junctional area of nerves and muscles.

In normal situation acetylcholine is released in the neuromasucular junctional areas. These acetylcholine next then attached with the receptors which are present on the surface of end plate membrane of muscles. This binding depolarize the muscle plate end and cause muscle contraction. On the other hand in pateint with myesthenia gravis this end plate membrane is not folded, the number of acetylcholine receptors are reduced and generally antibody prevent the binding of acetylcholine to its receptor. Thus when nerve impluse generated it fails to induce muscle action poteintial.

The treatment of myesthenia gravis includes medication such as Cholinesterase inhibitors, which is meant to increase the interaction between nerve and muscle. Corticosteroids are also administrated to reduce the autoantibody production. Immunosupprents are also used as treatment option.