Myasthenia gravis historical perspective
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Historical Perspective
The first possible case of Myasthenia gravis, Openchancanough was first described by Virginian Chroniclers in 1664. His symptoms included fatigue, heavy eyelids and weak muscle tone.(2) The other case of MG was described by an English doctor Thomas Willis. His patient had weakness and fatigue of muscles and eyelids.(3) in the late 1800s the name Myasthenia gravis was created and the classic symptoms of the disease were described,(3,4)
The first important step in treatment of MG occurred in 1934 by Marry Walker. She observed that the symptoms of patients with myasthenia gravis in similar to those with curare poisoning so their symptoms can improve by a cholinesterase inhibitor like physostigmine.(5) in 1937 Blalock described an improvement in his patient after removal of the thymus and established thymectomy as one of the treatment options of MG.(3) the autoimmune nature of this disease was first described by Simpson and Nastuck in 1959-1960.(6.7) In 1970s the use of immunosuppressants, azathioprine and plasma exchange became more prevalent.(9.10)