Abstract
Disorders of the neuromuscular transmission process are characterized clinically by variable weakness and abnormal fatigability of skeletal muscles without signs of neural disease. The fluctuant weakness is made worse by activity. Muscle power is, at least in part, restored by rest. The two main disorders of neuromuscular transmission, acquired myasthenia gravis (MG) and the Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS), are both autoimmune diseases. LEMS is often associated with carcinoma, especially of the lung (neoplastic LEMS), but also occurs in patients with presumed autoimmune disorders (nonneoplastic LEMS). Fluctuant weakness and fatigability are especially localized to muscles innervated by motor nuclei of the brain stem in MG while the muscles of the shoulder and pelvic girdle are most frequently affected in LEMS. MG is a postsynaptic disorder of neuromuscular transmission while LEMS is caused by a presynaptic membrane defect.
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© 1992 Springer Science+Business Media New York
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Nyberg-Hansen, R., Gjerstad, L. (1992). Disorders of Neuromuscular Transmission. In: Rugstad, H.E., Endresen, L., Førre, Ø. (eds) Immunopharmacology in Autoimmune Diseases and Transplantation. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1167-4_25
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1167-4_25
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-1169-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-1167-4
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