Analyzing the motor end-plate (MEP) — the specialized muscle region that communicates with a nerve cell — using a muscle biopsy could help diagnose patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) who test negative for common disease-associated antibodies, a small study suggests. Among patients with MG-like symptoms who were negative on…
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is supporting a pilot project that aims to develop a simple and fast diagnostic lab test for myasthenia gravis (MG). With the one-year, $100,000 NIH award, researchers at the University of California, Davis, will work to develop an assay able to identify disease-causing antibodies…
Treatment with the diabetes medication metformin suppresses the growth of immune T- and B-cell subsets that are implicated in the development of myasthenia gravis (MG), according to a study in a rat model of the neuromuscular disease. Metformin appeared to exert these positive effects by reversing the abnormal levels…
Two investigational UCB treatments for generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) — zilucoplan and rozanolixizumab — continue to show benefits in gMG patients, according to recently reported findings from Phase 3 trials. Both delivered as subcutaneous (under-the-skin) injections, zilucoplan works by blocking an immune system protein called C5 that…
The European Commission has approved Ultomiris (ravulizumab) as an add-on to standard therapy for adults with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). Eligible patients will be positive for antibodies targeting the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) — the most common type of MG-causing antibody. Ultomiris is now the first long-acting C5 complement…
Pyridostigmine is perceived as being moderately effective at easing myasthenia gravis (MG) symptoms, but often is accompanied by side effects, a study of Dutch patients revealed. Researchers noted the findings do not indicate a need for changes to current guidelines, which recommend the use of pyridostigmine as a first-line…
Neurologists find both Vyvgart (efgartigimod) and Ultomiris (ravulizumab-cwvz) effective for treating generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), but believe Ultomiris has a more convenient dosing schedule while Vyvgart may have a better safety profile. That’s according to a recent analysis by the market intelligence firm Spherix Global Insights.
Risk factors for converting ocular myasthenia gravis (MG) to generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) after a thymectomy, or thymus removal surgery, were identified in a recent study. Specifically, abnormalities in a repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) test and having a specific thymus tumor subtype called B2/B3 were predictive of gMG…
Levels of the tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) protein in immune B-cells are higher than normal in people with myasthenia gravis (MG), and may be a useful biomarker of inflammation in MG, a study suggested. The observed elevations were more pronounced among patients with generalized MG…
Researchers have found that a set of cells called medullary thymic epithelial cells, or mTECs, may play a role in the development of myasthenia gravis (MG) in thymoma patients — people with thymus tumors. Changes in the function of these cells were observed in thymoma tissues collected from people…
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