Myasthenia Gravis and Related Disorders

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-x

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2. Neuromuscular Junction Physiology and Pathophysiology

   • Robert L. Ruff

   Pages 1-13

3. Acetylcholine Receptor Structure

   • Jon M. Lindstrom

   Pages 15-52

4. Immunopathogenesis of Myasthenia Gravis

   • Bianca M. Conti-Fine, Brenda Diethelm-Okita, Norma Ostlie, Wei Wang, Monica Milani

   Pages 53-91

5. Clinical Presentation and Epidemiology of Myasthenia Gravis

   • Jan B. M. Kuks, Hans J. G. H. Oosterhuis

   Pages 93-113

6. Ocular Myasthenia

   • Robert B. Daroff

   Pages 115-128

7. Thymoma-Associated Myasthenia Gravis

   • Alexander Marx, Philipp Stroebel

   Pages 129-148

8. Electrodiagnosis of Neuromuscular Junction Disorders

   • Bashar Katirji

   Pages 149-175

9. Specific Antibodies in the Diagnosis and Management of Autoimmune Disorders of Neuromuscular Transmission and Related Diseases

   • Mark A. Agius, David P. Richman, Angela Vincent

   Pages 177-196

10. Treatment of Myasthenia Gravis

    • Henry J. Kaminski

    Pages 197-221

11. Neurocritical Care of Myasthenia Gravis Crisis

    • Jose Americo M. Fernandes Filho, Jose I. Suarez

    Pages 223-234

12. Thymectomy

    • Alfred Jaretzki III

    Pages 235-267

13. Lambert-Eaton Syndrome

    • C. Michel Harper, Vanda A. Lennon

    Pages 269-291

14. Acquired Neuromyotonia

    • Ian Hart, Angela Vincent

    Pages 293-307

15. Congenital Myasthenic Syndromes

    • Suraj A. Muley, Christopher M. Gomez

    Pages 309-326

16. Toxic Neuromuscular Transmission Disorders

    • James F. Howard Jr.

    Pages 327-354

17. Psychological and Social Consequences of Myasthenia Gravis

    • Robert H. Paul, James M. Gilchrist

    Pages 355-371

18. Back Matter

    Pages 373-396

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An international panel of expert clinicians and leading scientists comprehensively review the clinical and basic science of this disease and its relatives, including acquired neuromytonia and Lambert-Eaton syndrome. For the clinician, the book describes the wide range of signs and symptoms that make these diseases difficult to diagnose, review in depth the available diagnostic methods and their limitations, offer practical treatment recommendations based on years of experience, and discuss several promising treatments now emerging. For the basic scientist, the text illuminates neuromuscular structure and function, describes in detail the acetylcholine receptor (the central target of pathology in myasthenia gravis), and illuminates the autoimmune pathogenesis.

• antibody
• diseases
• pathogenesis
• pathology
• pathophysiology
• physiology

"The book covers the physiology of the neuromuscular junction and of the ACR structure with detailed illustrations. There are extensive dissertations on the immunopathogenesis of myasthenia gravis, on the different immunogenetic properties of different thymona types, and finally on the different clinical presentations and therapeutic options. An entire chapter is devoted to when thymectomy is necessary and how it is performed. The chapter on myasthenia gravis crisis is concise and informative. This is a well organized, comprehensive book with abundant up-to-date references. It belongs in the library of any neurologist involved in the care of neuromuscular junction disorders." -Doody's Health Sciences Book Review Journal

"...a well rounded book. I think that neurologists in training and general neurologists wanting a refresher course could do a lot worse then read this text. I would certainly recommend it." - Brain: A Journal of Neurology

"Primarily this book will appeal to neurologists, clinical neurophysiologists, and neuroanaesthetists who will find it useful for their everyday clinical practice; researchers of neuromuscular junction disorders will also find the book interesting. This book is an up-to-date and valuable source of information on myasthenia and related disorders." -The Lancet

"Generally, the chapters are well-written, illustrations are appropriate, and the twenty-first century well represented in the references. The book is useful and up-to-date summary of all aspects of MG and its related disorders." -Muscle & Nerve

"This book is strongly recommended to clinicians and researchers dealing with neuromuscular disorders (and to thoracic surgeons performing thymectomy)." -Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry

• Departments of Neurology and Neurosciences, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA

  Henry J. Kaminski

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