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Myasthenic crisis

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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A myasthenic crisis may result from severe disease or too little cholinesterase inhibition. The patient is unable to maintain an airway or make sufficient respiratory movements and requires ventilation.

A myasthenic crisis may be precipitated by a number of factors including:

  • non-compliance with medication
  • excessive activity
  • infection
  • drugs - see under aetiology of myasthenia gravis

All anticholinesterase drugs should be stopped as the patient is often resistant to these drugs whilst undergoing a crisis, and the patient ventilated. Plasmapheresis is often used. Anticholinesterase drugs are re-introduced once the crisis has passed.


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