Marisa Wexler, MS,  senior science writer—

The anticholinergic agent glycopyrrolate — known to decrease stomach acid and saliva production — could be safely used to control “death rattle” breathing in people with myasthenia gravis (MG), a recent case report suggests. The report, titled “Glycopyrrolate and the Management of “Death Rattle” in…

Administration of the probiotic bifidobacteria may ease myasthenia gravis (MG) symptoms by regulating the behavior of immune cells and altering the makeup of gut bacteria, a study in rats suggests. The study, “Therapeutic Effect of Bifidobacterium Administration on Experimental Autoimmune Myasthenia Gravis in Lewis Rats,”…

Variations in the gene DRB1 are associated with different risks of developing late-onset myasthenia gravis (LOMG), a recent meta-analysis suggests. This finding may lead to the identification of promising biomarkers for LOMG risk, the researchers said. The analysis, titled “The associations of HLA-DRB1 gene polymorphisms…

A recent meta-analysis has identified factors that put patients with myasthenia gravis at risk for complications following surgery to remove their thymus. These factors include having generalized myasthenia gravis (as opposed to the ocular form), symptoms in the head and neck, and tumors on the thymus. The analysis…

A type of immune cells called natural killer (NK) cells may be able to reduce symptoms of myasthenia gravis (MG) by regulating other components of the immune system, a study in rats showed. Targeting these cells might be a valid therapeutic pathway for treatment of MG and other…

The majority of myasthenia gravis (MG) acute exacerbations are associated with infections or with certain medications, a recent study suggests. These findings suggest that patients on certain medications, such as beta blockers and antibiotics, should be closely monitored and highlight the importance of vaccination. The study, titled, “…

For people with thymomas, certain risk factors, such as clusters of developing B-cells, called germinal centers, in their thymuses, may make them more likely to develop myasthenia gravis (MG), a study suggests. Other factors that may contribute to MG development in people with thymomas include higher levels of…

Children with ocular myasthenia gravis respond well to treatment, as largely do children with generalized myasthenia gravis, according to a single-site study that found no “significant differences” in response rates. Still, half of its 22 ocular patients achieved remission, its researchers said. Children with ocular disease are also diagnosed at…

Surgical removal of the thymus before the development of generalized myasthenia gravis is associated with higher remission rates in people with ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG) compared with patients who underwent the surgery after their disease generalized, a new study suggests. The study, titled “Thymectomy in ocular…

Myasthenia gravis (MG) can co-occur with premature ovarian failure (POF). Prompt and proper MG treatment, however, can help restore reproductive organ health, a recent report of two cases suggests. The case report, titled “Clinical characteristics and relationship between myasthenia gravis and premature ovarian failure: report of two…