Drooping of the upper eyelid, a common first sign of myasthenia gravis, is called ptosis.
Missing Word
ptosis
Ptosis is drooping of the upper eyelid caused by weakness of the eyelid muscles. Improvement in ptosis is one sign that a cholinesterase inhibitor is working.
Category: Myasthenia Gravis Basics
Question 2
Double vision caused by weakness of the eye muscles, another common early sign of myasthenia gravis, is called diplopia.
Missing Word
diplopia
Diplopia is double vision. In myasthenia gravis it results from weakness of the extraocular muscles and often appears with ptosis.
Category: Myasthenia Gravis Basics
Question 3
Slurred speech that develops after several minutes of talking in a patient with myasthenia gravis is called dysarthria.
Missing Word
dysarthria
Dysarthria is difficulty articulating words because of weak speech muscles. In myasthenia gravis it worsens with use and improves after rest.
Category: Myasthenia Gravis Basics
Question 4
Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder in which the body makes antibodies against its own acetylcholine receptors.
Missing Word
autoimmune
An autoimmune disorder occurs when the immune system attacks the body's own tissue. This is why immunosuppressants and monoclonal antibodies are part of treatment.
Category: Myasthenia Gravis Basics
Question 5
A tumor of the thymus, found in some patients with myasthenia gravis, is called a thymoma.
Missing Word
thymoma
A thymoma is a tumor of the thymus gland. It is linked to myasthenia gravis and is detected by CT or MRI of the chest.
Category: Myasthenia Gravis Basics
Question 6
Myasthenia gravis in a patient whose blood shows neither anti-AChR nor anti-MuSK antibodies is described as seronegative.
Missing Word
seronegative
Seronegative means the standard blood tests for disease antibodies are negative. These patients still have myasthenia gravis and are diagnosed with electrical tests of nerve and muscle.
Category: Myasthenia Gravis Basics
Question 7
Myasthenia gravis may enter a period of remission, during which medication may not be needed.
Missing Word
remission
Remission is a temporary or permanent period without active disease. Drugs may be reduced or stopped by the prescriber during remission.
Category: Myasthenia Gravis Basics
Question 8
Weakness of the chewing and swallowing muscles in myasthenia gravis raises the risk of aspiration of food or fluid into the lungs.
Missing Word
aspiration
Aspiration is the entry of food, fluid or secretions into the airway and lungs. Bulbar weakness makes it a major risk, so swallowing is assessed before meals.
Category: Cholinesterase Inhibitors
Question 9
The oral reversible cholinesterase inhibitor that is the drug of choice for controlling symptoms of myasthenia gravis is pyridostigmine.
Missing Word
pyridostigmine
Pyridostigmine slows the breakdown of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction and increases muscle strength. Doses are individualized and adjusted to the patient's response.
Category: Cholinesterase Inhibitors
Question 10
Visible twitching of small groups of muscle fibers, a sign of cholinergic excess, is called fasciculation.
Missing Word
fasciculation
Fasciculations are fine, visible muscle twitches. With a cholinesterase inhibitor they suggest too much acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction and possible cholinergic crisis.
Category: Crisis and Antidotes
Question 11
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia in older adults.
Missing Word
dementia
Dementia is a progressive decline in memory and thinking severe enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer's disease accounts for more cases than any other cause.
Category: Alzheimer's Pathology
Question 12
Deposits of beta-amyloid that form outside neurons in Alzheimer's disease are called plaques.
Missing Word
plaques
Plaques are clumps of beta-amyloid, a fragment of amyloid precursor protein, that build up between neurons. Neurofibrillary tangles, by contrast, form inside neurons.
Category: Alzheimer's Pathology
Question 13
Short-term care that gives family members a break from caring for a person with Alzheimer's disease is called respite care.
Missing Word
respite
Respite care, such as adult day programs, gives caregivers rest and gives the patient social contact. Supporting caregivers is a major goal of Alzheimer's care.
Category: Alzheimer's Pathology
Question 14
Excess glutamate activity lets too much calcium enter neurons, which is toxic to them and which memantine helps limit.
Missing Word
calcium
Normally glutamate allows a brief calcium influx that supports learning. Steady excess glutamate lets calcium keep entering, damaging neurons; memantine blocks the NMDA channel to limit this.
Category: Alzheimer's Drugs
Question 15
Patients taking cholinesterase inhibitors for Alzheimer's disease are weighed regularly because the drugs can cause nausea and loss of appetite, called anorexia.
Missing Word
anorexia
Anorexia means loss of appetite. Along with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, it is a common GI effect of cholinesterase inhibitors and can lead to weight loss.
Category: Alzheimer's Drugs