Myasthenia gravis and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome: treatment options and guidance for management during COVID-19 pandemic
Myasthenia gravis (MG) and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) are immune-mediated neurologic disorders characterized by muscle weakness and fatigue. MG is the most common neuromuscular junction disorder while LEMS is an extraordinary rare disease. The symptomatic treatment of MG and LEMS incl...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Vilnius University Press
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Neurologijos seminarai |
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| Online Access: | https://www.journals.vu.lt/neurologijos_seminarai/article/view/27748 |
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| author | A. Klimašauskienė R. Bunevičiūtė |
| author_facet | A. Klimašauskienė R. Bunevičiūtė |
| author_sort | A. Klimašauskienė |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Myasthenia gravis (MG) and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) are immune-mediated neurologic disorders characterized by muscle weakness and fatigue. MG is the most common neuromuscular junction disorder while LEMS is an extraordinary rare disease. The symptomatic treatment of MG and LEMS includes acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. Amifampridine (3,4-diaminopyridine) is effective in reducing symptoms of the LEMS. Long term immunosuppressive treatment involves corticosteroids, azathioprine, and mycophenolate mofetil. Thymectomy is an essential component of treatment for thymomatous MG patients. Thymectomy also has a therapeutic role for selected non-thymomatous MG patients. The treatment of severe exacerbations and myasthenic crises includes intravenous immunoglobulins and plasma exchange.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, MG/LEMS patients should continue ongoing treatment and are advised not to stop any immunosuppressive agents used. Altering or stopping an immunosuppressive agent may increase disease activity and/or MG exacerbation or crisis. Immune depleting agents should not be given if symptoms and signs of serious infections appear.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bd7d229855004a39b9cdbd9e3a140289 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1392-3064 2424-5917 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | Vilnius University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Neurologijos seminarai |
| spelling | doaj-art-bd7d229855004a39b9cdbd9e3a1402892025-01-20T18:22:43ZengVilnius University PressNeurologijos seminarai1392-30642424-59172020-06-01242(84)10.29014/ns.2020.20Myasthenia gravis and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome: treatment options and guidance for management during COVID-19 pandemicA. Klimašauskienė 0R. Bunevičiūtė 1Vilnius University, LithuaniaVilnius University, Lithuania Myasthenia gravis (MG) and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) are immune-mediated neurologic disorders characterized by muscle weakness and fatigue. MG is the most common neuromuscular junction disorder while LEMS is an extraordinary rare disease. The symptomatic treatment of MG and LEMS includes acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. Amifampridine (3,4-diaminopyridine) is effective in reducing symptoms of the LEMS. Long term immunosuppressive treatment involves corticosteroids, azathioprine, and mycophenolate mofetil. Thymectomy is an essential component of treatment for thymomatous MG patients. Thymectomy also has a therapeutic role for selected non-thymomatous MG patients. The treatment of severe exacerbations and myasthenic crises includes intravenous immunoglobulins and plasma exchange. During the COVID-19 pandemic, MG/LEMS patients should continue ongoing treatment and are advised not to stop any immunosuppressive agents used. Altering or stopping an immunosuppressive agent may increase disease activity and/or MG exacerbation or crisis. Immune depleting agents should not be given if symptoms and signs of serious infections appear. https://www.journals.vu.lt/neurologijos_seminarai/article/view/27748myasthenia gravisLambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrometherapyCOVID-19 |
| spellingShingle | A. Klimašauskienė R. Bunevičiūtė Myasthenia gravis and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome: treatment options and guidance for management during COVID-19 pandemic Neurologijos seminarai myasthenia gravis Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome therapy COVID-19 |
| title | Myasthenia gravis and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome: treatment options and guidance for management during COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | Myasthenia gravis and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome: treatment options and guidance for management during COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Myasthenia gravis and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome: treatment options and guidance for management during COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Myasthenia gravis and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome: treatment options and guidance for management during COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | Myasthenia gravis and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome: treatment options and guidance for management during COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | myasthenia gravis and lambert eaton myasthenic syndrome treatment options and guidance for management during covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | myasthenia gravis Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome therapy COVID-19 |
| url | https://www.journals.vu.lt/neurologijos_seminarai/article/view/27748 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT aklimasauskiene myastheniagravisandlamberteatonmyasthenicsyndrometreatmentoptionsandguidanceformanagementduringcovid19pandemic AT rbuneviciute myastheniagravisandlamberteatonmyasthenicsyndrometreatmentoptionsandguidanceformanagementduringcovid19pandemic |