Myasthenia gravis
RSS feedA better understanding of the barriers and enablers of physical activity in myasthenia gravis
Led by Simone Birnbaum, a researcher at the Neuromuscular physiology and neuromuscular Evaluation Lab, in collaboration with the AFM-Telethon, the national MYaEX study involved 455 adults with autoimmune myasthenia gravis, which was stabilised by treatment in more than half of the cases: 53.6% of these participants reported exercising, which is defined in this study as … [Read more]
Towards a consensus-based integration of innovative therapies for myasthenia gravis?
A group of European specialists in autoimmune myasthenia gravis set out to reach a consensus on the inclusion of new molecules (such as neonatal Fc receptor complement inhibitors, etc.) within the therapeutic arsenal for the disease: the first step involved drafting the terms of a survey aimed at a wider group of experts; this preliminary … [Read more]
The benefits of the ketogenic diet in the treatment of myasthenia gravis
German clinicians have investigated the benefits of the ketogenic diet (very high in fat and low in carbohydrates) in autoimmune myasthenia gravis, following on from other trials – some of which were successful – in other autoimmune diseases: 41 adults with autoimmune myasthenia gravis took part in a randomised controlled trial, with two separate groups … [Read more]
In myasthenia gravis, complement inhibitors increase life expectancy… and cardiovascular risk!
Two German researchers investigated the benefits and potential complications – particularly cardiovascular ones – of a new class of drugs used to treat refractory forms of autoimmune myasthenia gravis: 1,094 patients with myasthenia gravis treated with C5 inhibitors were compared with an untreated control group of the same size (1,094), within the treated group, a … [Read more]
Results of the cemdisiran trial in myasthenia gravis have been published
In 13 countries, including France, the Phase III Nimble trial evaluated cemdisiran, a small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting complement component 5, administered subcutaneously, in patients with generalised myasthenia gravis with anti-RACh and/or anti-LRP4 antibodies: 263 adults were treated for 24 weeks with cemdisiran alone (600 mg every 12 weeks), cemdisiran (200 mg every 4 weeks) … [Read more]
An analysis of BNDMR data on myasthenia gravis
A study of 3,963 patients with myasthenia gravis included in the National Rare Diseases Database (BNDMR) provides valuable insights into patient care at rare disease reference centres: the median interval between diagnosis and inclusion in the BNDMR is 3.8 months, the age at symptom onset ranges from 32 to 69 years, and is 65 years … [Read more]
Very late-onset myasthenia gravis: a condition with a good prognosis that requires active treatment
Very late-onset autoimmune myasthenia (VLOM) is becoming increasingly common: appears from the age of 65 onwards, is characterised by a male predominance and a rare association with thymoma, should be considered in any elderly patient presenting with recent localised or generalised muscle weakness, with testing for anti-RACh antibodies being essential, generally has a good prognosis, … [Read more]
Pyridostigmine and amifampridine evaluated versus placebo in myasthenia gravis
Almost a century after Dr Mary Walker first used pyridostigmine to treat autoimmune myasthenia gravis: the randomised, randomised, double-blind IMPACT-MG trial in the Netherlands compared the anticholinesterase alone (in 19 patients), then in combination with amifampridine (20 patients), versus placebo, in 5-day periods separated by 2-day washout periods; the investigators concluded that pyridostigmine was superior … [Read more]
Encouraging results for efgartigimod in juvenile myasthenia gravis
Approved in France since 2022, efgartigimod (Vyvgart®) is currently indicated for adults with generalised autoimmune myasthenia gravis with anti-RACh antibodies. A multicentre retrospective study conducted in China investigated its use in 17 children and adolescents (median age 13.4 years): efgartigimod (Vyvgart®) was initiated for an acute exacerbation of myasthenia or insufficient improvement despite treatment (pyridostigmine, … [Read more]
CAR-T cells are effective in reducing autoantibodies in myasthenia gravis
German researchers have developed and tested CAR-T cells using serum from patients with myasthenia gravis: this novel cell therapy aimed to enable effector cells to recognise the alpha-1 and beta-1 subunits of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (NAChR), this led to a depletion of the B lymphocytes responsible for producing autoantibodies against the nAChR, a consequent … [Read more]
