AI Summary
This article discusses the use of low-cost immunosuppressants for the treatment of myasthenia gravis, an antibody-mediated disorder that affects neuromuscular transmission. The disorder can cause weakness in ocular muscles or can be more generalized, affecting limb, bulbar, and respiratory muscles. It is estimated to affect over 700,000 people worldwide. Most people with myasthenia gravis require immunosuppressive drugs to control the disease, with a success rate of around 60-70%. Treatment may also include acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.
Myasthenia gravis is an antibody-mediated disorder of neuromuscular transmission, presenting with fatiguable weakness that is either isolated to ocular muscles only or generalised (ie, affecting limb, bulbar, and respiratory muscles). The disorder is estimated to affect more than 700 000 people worldwide.1 Most individuals with myasthenia gravis require immunosuppressive drugs at some point for disease control, which is achieved in about 60–70% of patients.2,3 Treatment might also include acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.