CURRENT AND FUTURE THERAPIES FOR MYASTHENIA-GRAVIS

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is undoubtedly the most thoroughly understood o f all human autoimmune diseases. The basic defect in the disease is a decrease in the number of available acetylcholine receptors (AChR) at neuromuscular junctions caused by an antibody-mediated autoimmune atta ck. Current treatments aimed at restoring the available AChR, depletin g the autoantibodies or suppressing the immune system have been so eff ective that most patients can lead normal lives. However, prolonged dr ug treatment is required, and this carries a potential risk of drug to xicity and, in the case of immunosuppressants, systemic immunosuppress ion. The ideal treatment for MG would eliminate only the abnormal auto immune response without interfering with the immune system. During the past 20 years, impressive advances have been made in our understandin g of the immunology and molecular biology of MG. Accordingly, it shoul d be possible to design rational and immune-based therapies in the fut ure. in this article, we briefly review the current treatment modaliti es for MG, and discuss the prospects for immunotherapy.