Michael Hehir, MD, Professor of Neurology at the University of Vermont, discusses traditional versus novel therapies for myasthenia gravis (MG).
MG is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by weakness of the skeletal muscles. The condition results from a defect in the transmission of nerve impulses to muscles, which is due to the presence of antibodies against acetylcholine receptors in the neuromuscular junction. The exact reason this occurs is not known. Weakness tends to increase during periods of activity and improve after periods of rest. Common symptoms include weakness of the muscles that control:
- Eye and eyelid
- Facial expressions
- Chewing
- Talking
- Swallowing
As Dr. Hehir explains, there have been recent advancements in the MG treatment space, with five therapies being approved for treatment since 2017. These treatments fall under two main categories of MG therapies: FcRn inhibitors and complement inhibitors. These treatments are most commonly used when patients are unresponsive to traditional MG therapies and standard of care.
However, there is still some debate on where and when these therapies should be used with regards to standard of care. Factors influencing this debate include the ability of traditional and novel therapies to minimize or negate symptoms, side effect profiles, and costs. Future studies focusing on these factors may be beneficial to understanding the best strategies for treating patients with MG.
To learn more about FcRn antagonists to treat MG, visit our CME program https://checkrare.com/learning/p-fcrn-and-myasthenia-gravis/
To learn more about Complement inhibitors to treat MG, visit our CME program https://checkrare.com/learning/p-myasthenia-gravis-and-the-complement-system/
For more information on MG and other rare musculoskeletal disorders, visit https://checkrare.com/diseases/musculoskeletal-diseases/
