Autoimmunity, myasthenia gravis

StmcturaHy related to nitrofurantoias are Dantrolene [7261-97-4] (38), a peripherally acting muscle relaxant, and its analogues (39), which can be used as an antidote against succiaylcholine-iaduced myopathy and ia autoimmune myasthenia gravis therapy (136,137). 

Measuring muscle-evoked responses to repetitive motor nerve electrical stimulation permits detection of presyn-aptic neuromuscular junction dysfunction. In botulism and the Lambert-Eaton syndrome, repetitive stimulation elicits a smaller than normal skeletal muscle response at the beginning of the stimulus train, due to impaired initial release of acetylcholine-containing vesicles from presyn-aptic terminals of motor neurons followed by a normal or accentuated incremental muscle response during repeated stimulation. This incremental response to repetitive stimulation in presynaptic neuromuscular disorders can be distinguished from the decremental response that characterizes autoimmune myasthenia gravis, which affects the postsynaptic component of neuromuscular junctions. 

Fast-channel syndrome. The clinical features resemble those of autoimmune myasthenia gravis (see below) with variable severity. Conversely to what is found in slow-channel syndrome, the open state of the AChR is destabilized, manifesting as fast dissociation of ACh from the receptor and/or excessively reduced open times. One mutation has also caused multiple congenital joint contractures owing to fetal hypomotility in utero. In most cases, the mutant allele causing the kinetic abnormality... 

Lindstrom, J. Immunobiology of myasthenia gravis, experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis, and Lambert-Eaton syndrome. Annu. Rev. Immunol. 3 109-131,1985. 

Balandina A, Lecart S, Dartevelle P, Saoudi A, Berrih-Aknin S Functional defect of regulatory CD4+CD25+T cells in the thymus of patients with autoimmune myasthenia gravis. Blood 2005 105 735-741. 

Li HL, Shi FD, Bai XF Nasal tolerance to experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis Tolerance reversal by nasal administration of minute amount of IFN-"y. Clin Immunopathol 1998 87 15-22. 

Garchon HJ (2003) Genetics of autoimmune myasthenia gravis, a model for antibody-mediated autoimmunity in man. J Autoimmun, 21 105-110. 

It is important to use these drag with caution in patients with a history of gastrointestinal disorders, renal disease, or liver impairment. The neuromuscular blocking action of die lincosamides poses a danger to patients widi myasthenia gravis (an autoimmune disease manifested by extreme weakness and exhaustion of die muscles). 

Xu et al. [5] described the effect of (z>)-penicillamine on the binding of several antiacetylcholine receptor monoclonal antibodies to the Torpedo acetylcholine receptor. Penicillamine is covalently incorporated into the acetylcholine receptor through SS exchange at the cysteine residues of the a-subunit, altering the antigenic structure of the receptor. This effect on the structure of the native receptor at the neuromuscular junction may be responsible for the establishment of the autoimmune response to the acetylcholine receptor in (i))-penicillamine-induced myasthenia gravis. Cysteine and penicillamine interact to form penicillamine-cysteine mixed disulfide complexes [6] ... 

Penicillamine onset may be seen in 1 to 3 months, and most responses occur within 6 months. Early adverse effects include skin rash, metallic taste, hypogeusia, stomatitis, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and dyspepsia. Glomerulonephritis may occur, which manifests as proteinuria and hematuria. Penicillamine is usually reserved for patients who are resistant to other therapies because of the rare but potentially serious induction of autoimmune diseases (e.g., Goodpasture s syndrome, myasthenia gravis). 

Drugs can cause a wide variety of other autoimmune reactions. One example is myasthenia gravis, which is characterized by muscle weakness and is mediated by antibodies against the acetylcholine receptor at the neuromuscular junction. It has been reported in association with penicillamine [66], gold salts [67], and procainamide [68]. Another form of drug-induced autoimmunity is polymyositis, which is an autoimmune disease... 

Nitrofurantion D-Penicillamine Peripheral neuritis Autoimmunity drug-induced SLE, myasthenia gravis, pemphigus, glomerulonephritis, Goodpasture s disease... 

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease in which antibodies are present in blood and bind to the acetylcholine receptor on the motor end-plate. This prevents the muscles from contracting so that, due to lack of use, they become weak and fatigue easily. In particular, there is difficulty in speaking, swallowing and chewing food. 

Clinical use of reversible inhibitors is directed to eye, skeletal muscle, neuromuscular junctions, gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, respiratory tract, and heart and used in treatment of glaucoma (an ocular disease caused by increased intraocular pressure due to inadequate drainage of aqueous humor at filtration angle), myasthenia gravis (an autoimmune disease... 

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia Myasthenia gravis Cranial arteritis... 

Both groups of AChE inhibitors are used therapeutically. One use of anticholinesterase drugs is in myasthenia gravis. This is an autoimmune disease caused by the development of antibodies against the patient s own ACh receptors, accompanied by disturbed neuromuscular transmission. The disturbance is caused by a reduction in the number of nerve terminals and an increase in the width of the synaptic cleft. Normally, nicotinic... 

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease resulting from production of autoantibodies against AChR at the motor end plate, causing defects in neuromuscular transmission. Depending on the muscles affected a patient may develop dysphagia or respiratory failure [1]. The appearance of pathological forms of erythrocytes such as stomatocytes, echinocytes etc., in peripheral blood causes microcirculation disorders [2]. 

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease affecting skeletal muscle neuromuscular junctions. In this disease, antibodies are produced against the main immunogenic region found on subunits of the nicotinic receptor-channel complex. 

Examples of some conditions which are known,or are believed to be, to be autoimmune responses include myasthenia gravis (destruction of acetylcholine receptors), rheumatic fever (a streptococcal infection challenges the immune system and then the immune system mistakes heart tissue for another strep infection), Addison s disease (destruction of the adrenal glands), arthritis (an infection of unknown origin starts the immune response but somehow IgG becomes changed, enough so as to start another IgM response - this time to the body s own IgG), pernicious anemia (inability to process vitamin B12)- insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM or type I diabetes), multiple sclerosis, aspermatogenesis, and photosensitivity. 

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