Myasthenia gravis in children
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is considered physiologically to be a chronic disease with dysfunction of transmitter transmission at the neuromuscular junction; immunological studies have shown that there are antibodies against acetylcholine receptors in the patient's blood, which reduces the effective acetylcholine receptors at the motor end plate. Therefore, myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease with dysfunction of transmission at the neuromuscular junction (synapse). It mainly affects the acetylcholine receptors (AchR) on the postsynaptic membrane of the neuromuscular junction of striated muscle, and other parts and tissues of the body may also be affected. It is characterized by low muscle strength and easy fatigue of the affected striated muscle. After repeated contraction in a short period of time, the muscle strength decreases rapidly. The symptoms are alleviated after rest, and it is effective for cholinesterase drug treatment. There are three main types of myasthenia gravis in children: neonatal MG, congenital MG, and childhood MG. Neonatal and childhood MG is an acquired autoimmune disease with neuromuscular junction transmission disorder. 90% of adults are positive for nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antibodies (nAChRab), while nAChRab is mostly negative in pediatric cases. The main manifestations are ptosis and extraocular muscle paralysis, which is more common in girls.