Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder characterized by weakness and fatigue of skeletal muscles that worsens with use. It results from a decrease in acetylcholine receptors caused by circulating antibodies against the receptors, which compete with acetylcholine to bind receptors, induce receptor endocytosis, and damage the postsynaptic membrane. Treatment includes administering acetylcholinesterase inhibitors to prolong the action of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction, thymectomy to remove thymus tissue mediating immune responses, immunosuppression with drugs like glucocorticoids and azathioprine, and plasmapheresis to remove acetylcholine receptor antibodies from the plasma.

1. Myasthenia gravis
Aman singh

2. • It is a auto immune disorder characterized by weakness and fatigability of
skeletal muscles that gradually worsens as muscles are used.
• It results from decrease in number of AChR caused due to production of
circulating autoantibodies againt the receptors. Moreover the postsynaptic
folds are flattened.

4. • The anti-AChR antibodies have three major functions:
I. They compete with Ach to bind AChR.
II. They induce endocytosis to AChR.
III. They damage the postsynaptic membrane.

5. Physiological basis of treatment
1. Administration of AChE inhibitors: Examples of these drugs are pyridostigmine
and neostigmine.
2. Thymectomy:Recently it has been observed that immune responses are mediated
by T cells.
3. Immunosuppression: drugs like glucocorticoids and azathioprine are useful.
4. Plasmapheresis:It removes theAChR anti-bodies from plasma.

6. THANK YOU!!!!!