Question
A 25 year old woman suffered from weakness in the eye muscles (as shown in the image) which later progressed to weakness in the proximal limb muscles.Weakness is typically least severe in the morning and worsens as the day progresses.
and it gets increased by exertion and alleviated by rest.This patient is suffering from which type of Auto-immune disorder?
A. Motor neuron.
B. Neuromuscular junction.
C. Peripheral nerve.
D. Spinal cord.
Show Answer
|
Correct Answer » B
Explanation
|
|
Ans: B. Neuromuscular junction.
The patient in question is suffering from Myasthenia Gravis.
Myasthenia gravis
- It is an autoimmune disorder of neuromuscular transmission in which antibodies form against acetylcholine nicotinic postsynaptic receptors at the neuromuscular junction of skeletal muscles.
- Women are more often affected than men.
- The usual initial complaint is a specific muscle weakness rather than generalized weakness
- Extraocular muscle weakness or ptosis is present initially in 50% of patients and occurs during the course of illness in 90%.
- Weakness tends to spread from the ocular to facial to bulbar muscles and then to truncal and limb muscles.
- Limb weakness may be more severe proximally than distally.
- Weakness is typically least severe in the morning and worsens as the day progresses.
- Weakness is increased by exertion and alleviated by rest.
- The anti–acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody (Ab) test is reliable for diagnosing autoimmune myasthenia gravis .
Therapy for MG includes the following:
- Anticholinesterase (AchE) inhibitors
- Immunomodulating agents
- Intravenous immune globulin (IVIg)
- Plasmapheresis
- Thymectomy
