Conditions Effecting the Nervous System and PharmacotherapyPart Seven: Neurodegenerative DX- Myasthenia Gravis MG Flashcards
Exam 4 (Final)
Myasthenia Gravis MG:
What is the normal function of cholinesterase?
Normal function of cholinesterase is to break down ACh –> choline & acetic acid
Myasthenia Gravis MG: What is it?
MG is a rare chronic, progressive autoimmune disease
Myasthenia Gravis MG:
What occurs?
Antibodies destroy acetylcholine receptors (AChR) at post-synaptic membrane of neuromuscular junction
Myasthenia Gravis MG:
What occurs:
Antibodies destroy acetylcholine receptors (AChR) at post-synaptic membrane of neuromuscular junction
What does this lead to?
Breakdown in the normal communication between nerves and muscles.
Myasthenia Gravis MG:
What causes MG?
Cause: acquired immunological or genetic abnormality, thymic tumors or changes
Myasthenia Gravis MG:
What are typical complaints?
Typical complaints:
muscle weakness,
ocular motor disturbances,
ptosis (droopy eyelid),
or diplopia are the initial symptoms.
Myasthenia Gravis MG:
How is severity of weakness throughout the day?
Severity of weakness fluctuates during the day, usually being least severe in the morning and worse as the day progresses, especially after prolonged use of affected muscles
Myasthenia Gravis MG:
What does weakness involve?
Weakness can involve oropharyngeal and limb muscles.
Myasthenia Gravis MG:
What is treatment for? Is there a cure?
There is no cure for MG, but treatment can help relieve signs and symptoms
Prevalence and Exacerbating Factors of Myasthenia Gravis:
How common is it? Who is it in more?
Rare
More common in women
Prevalence and Exacerbating Factors of Myasthenia Gravis:
Precipitating Factors for Exacerbations
Emotional stress
Pregnancy or menses
Trauma
Temperature extremes
Hypokalemia
Ingestion of drugs
Psychotropic drugs
Prevalence and Exacerbating Factors of Myasthenia Gravis:
Precipitating Factors for Exacerbations:
Ingestion of what drugs can aggravate MG?
Ingestion of drugs, including aminoglycoside, macrolide, tetracycline & fluoroquinolone antibiotics, β-adrenergic & Ca++ ch blockers, and phenytoin aggravate MG
Patho of MG:
What happens first?
Autoantibodies bind to the receptors at the NMJ, preventing acetylcholine from binding to them
Patho of MG:
What happens after Autoantibodies bind to the receptors at the NMJ, preventing acetylcholine from binding to them?
Eventually autoantibodies attack specific receptors found at the neuromuscular junction
Patho of MG:
Eventually autoantibodies attack specific receptors found at the neuromuscular junction
What does this cause?
Prevents muscle from responding to the nerve signal.
Patho of MG
In MG, - antibodies bind & attack the acetylcholine (nicotinicM) receptors at the neuromuscular junction.
What happens to the number of sites?
Decreased ACh receptor sites at the NMJ
Patho of MG
In MG, when there is a decreased number of acetylcholine receptor sites at the NMJ
What happens to the acetylcholine?
ACh can’t attach to receptors and induce muscle contraction
Patho of MG
When ACh can’t attach to receptors and induce muscle contraction –>? What happens?
skeletal muscle weakness, and fatigue of the affected muscles.
Patho of MG
When ACh can’t attach to receptors and induce muscle contraction –> skeletal muscle weakness, and fatigue of the affected muscles
What muscles are usually affected initially?
The facial and ocular muscles are usually affected initially, followed by the arm and trunk muscles.
Patho of MG:
What is acetylcholine responsible for normally?
Ach is responsible for movement.
Patho of MG:
Normally, how is normal voluntary movement possible?
ACh moves across the neuromuscular junction to the nicotinicM receptors & makes voluntary movement possible.
Patho cont’d:
90% of patients with generalized MG have what?
90% of patients with generalized MG have anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies detectable in their blood.
Patho cont’d:
What other disorders are common in patients with MG? What does this suggest?
Disorders of the thymus such as hyperplasia and tumors are common in patients with MG, suggesting autoantibody production occurs in the thymus.
Clinical Presentation & DX of MG:
How do AchR receptor sites and autoantibody attacks occur?
AchR receptor sites and Ab attack varies
Clinical Presentation & DX of MG:
How is onset?
Insidious onset
Clinical Presentation & DX of MG:
What is first effected?
Face, throat & neck muscles 1st affected
Clinical Presentation & DX of MG:
Face, throat & neck muscles 1st affected
What are the effects?
Facial drooping
Throat muscles, esophagus: dysphagia
Vision issues:
Drooling, diff chewing & swallowing
Clinical Presentation & DX of MG:
Face, throat & neck muscles 1st affected
What are the visual issues effects?
diplopia, ptosis, blurred vision, difficulty moving eyes
Clinical Presentation & DX of MG:
What are other effects?
Muscle fatigue after exercise
Progressive weakness
Dyspnea, impaired ventilation (severe MG)
Clinical Presentation & DX of MG:
When may symptoms first appear?
Sx may 1st appear in pregnancy, PP, or with anesthesia
Clinical Presentation & DX of MG
Diagnostics
PE & neuro assessment
Serum antibody levels
Nerve conduction study
Electromyographic (EMG) studies
Thymus CT, MRI
Edrophonium
Autoimmune testing
Clinical Presentation & DX of MG
Diagnostics: What is included in autoimmune testing?
ESR
ACh receptor antibodies
Antinuclear antibody
Myasthenic Crisis: What is it?
Acute exacerbation
Myasthenic Crisis: What is it characterized by?
Characterized by an increase in weakness and fatigue, and respiratory impairment may develop requiring ventilator support to maintain oxygenation.
Myasthenic Crisis: How does it develop?
Develops as disease progresses
Myasthenic Crisis: What happens to muscles?
Muscles too weak to maintain ventilation
Myasthenic Crisis:
There is Muscles too weak to maintain ventilation
Paralysis –> death
Quadriparesis, quadriplegia –> resp arrest
Myasthenic Crisis:
Muscles too weak to maintain ventilation- why does this occur?
Caused by inadequate medication
Myasthenic Crisis
Exacerbating factors
Fatigue, illness, stress, pregnancy
Extreme heat, emotional distress, infections
EtOH consumption/med exposure/inadequate medication
Myasthenic Crisis
How is it treated?
TX with cholinesterase inhibitor