Filed in archive
Muscular Disorders
, Neurological Disorders
, Studies
, Treatment
by Gloria Gamat on December 26, 2007
According to a new research by a team from Saint Louis University School of Medicine:
Affecting about 120,000 Americans - Myasthenia gravis - happens when the immune system produces antibodies that attack and damage acetylcholine receptors - which are mechanisms that play a key role in transmitting the electrical impulses that cause muscles to move and contract.
According to Henry J. Kaminski, M.D., professor and chairman of the department of neurology and psychiatry at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine - one of the study's authors:
Potentially promising! Take note that Myasthenia Gravis cannot be cured, but therapies are available to reduce the symptoms such as this new drug discovered that can reverse the severe muscle weakness caused by this condition.
Find more details from Science Daily.
[Photo Credit: kronus.com]
Using an animal model, the SLU scientists found they could prevent muscle weakness, or restore muscle strength, caused by myasthenia gravis by stopping the complement cascade at a step called C5 - before the series of chemical reactions had finished.
They did this by administering an anti-C5 agent, which targets one of the proteins involved in the cascade and thus stops the process.
Affecting about 120,000 Americans - Myasthenia gravis - happens when the immune system produces antibodies that attack and damage acetylcholine receptors - which are mechanisms that play a key role in transmitting the electrical impulses that cause muscles to move and contract.
According to Henry J. Kaminski, M.D., professor and chairman of the department of neurology and psychiatry at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine - one of the study's authors:
"The findings are promising enough that human clinical trials involving the anti-C5 agent - called eculizumab - are likely within a year.
We believe this therapeutic approach has strong potential for improving the lives of patients with myasthenia gravis.
And if it proves successful there, it could also one day help us find new therapies for other auto-immune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus."
Potentially promising! Take note that Myasthenia Gravis cannot be cured, but therapies are available to reduce the symptoms such as this new drug discovered that can reverse the severe muscle weakness caused by this condition.
Find more details from Science Daily.
[Photo Credit: kronus.com]
Trackback: http://publish.creative-weblogging.com/publish/mt-tb.pl/108411
Addthis
Ask
Blinklist
del.icio.us
Digg
Fark
Facebook
Google
Lycos
Ma.gnolia
Mr Wong
Netscape
Netvousz
Newsvine
Reddit
StumbleUpon
Slashdot
Tailrank
Technorati
Wink
Yahoo
Vote for Muscle Weakness Due To Myasthenia Gravis Can Be Stopped!:
|
Rating: 9.00 out of 4 vote(s) cast.
|
Response from:
Donlyn
(01/06/08 8:18pm)
I sure hope this is true! I am very tired of living with Generalized Myasthenia Gravis. My life has been ruined, my hope is waining. I need help. I am very tired of being frustrated and told I'm depressed. I'm not depressed, I'm disabled. I'm sorry that people can't see my reality. If they could just live in my shoes for just one day, then they would understand the frustration.
Response from:
Thomas D. Taylor
(08/17/08 11:22am)
If anyone is looking to hear what a 12 year old boy with MG has to say about having MG and Asperger Syndrome, go to www.mic.mypodcast.com and listen to the free podcast put out by Midnight In Chicago entitled "Special Feature Interview with Douglas Giesel and An Update Interview with Lewis Schofield."
Subscribe
Use the search to look for other interesting posts
| RSS |  See all blog subscribe options |
 What is RSS? | |
| Yahoo! |
|
| Addthis |
|
| Bloglines |
|
| Newsletter | |
| Follow us on Twitter! |
