Pulmonary Disease Chapter 30: Myasthenia Gravis (MG)

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Myasthenia Gravis interferes with the chemical transmission of what neuroreceptor at the neuromuscular junction?

-Generalized MG

-Ocular MG

name the 2 clinical types of myasthenia gravis

Ocular Myasthenia Gravis

when MG muscle weakness is limited to the eyelids and extraocular muscles

generalized myasthenia gravis

when the muscle weakness involves a variable combination of muscles in the mouth and throat responsible for speech and swallowing, limbs, and respiratory muscles

True

True or False: In severe MG cases (myasthenic crisis) the diaphragm can become paralyzed

-Mucus accumulation

-Atelectasis

-Alveolar consolidation

name 3 anatomic alterations of the lungs in Myasthenia Gravis

IgG

which antibodies will be elevated in Myasthenia Gravis

IgG

Acetylcholine receptor antibodies that block the nerve impulse transmission at the neuromuscular junction

descending

Is paralysis in MG ascending or descending?

-Edrophonium/Tensilon test

-Ice pack test

name 2 diagnostic tests very specific to Myasthenia Gravis

Chronic muscle weakness

the hallmark of MG is...

ptosis

the drooping of one or both eyelids is called

double vision

the term for double vision is called diplopia

3-5 minutes

how long do you hold the ice pack on the symptomatic eye?

Edrophonium (Tensilon)

short-acting drug that blocks cholinesterase from breaking down Acetylcholine after it has been released from the terminal axon

-crackles

-diminished

name 2 breath sounds in myasthenia gravis

yes

can an MG patient be cyanotic?

-Maximum inspiratory force (NIF/MIP)

-Maximum expiratory pressure

-Forced Vital Capacity

name 3 measurements that must be closely monitored as part of MG management

-20

NIF/MIP should be no greater than...

20 cc/kg IBW

forced vital capacity less than ________ indicates ventilatory failure

Cholinesterase inhibitor

what kind of drug is pyridostigmine?

IgG

in a thymectomy which antibodies are administered to an MG patient