|
|
Article: Myasthenia gravis.(RESPIRATORY CLINICAL KEEPER #8)
- Article from:
- FOCUS: Journal for Respiratory Care & Sleep Medicine
- Article date:
- March 22, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Focus Publications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by recurring muscle weakness and fatigue. The name myasthenia gravis originates from the Greek words myelos and astheneia meaning, "muscle" and "weakness," respectively, and from the Latin word gravidus, which means "grave or serious."
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
An English physiologist by the name of Thomas Willis is credited with clinically describing myasthenia gravis in 1672. Doctors Samuel Goldflam, Wilhelm Erb, and Friedrich Jolly from Germany are responsible for fully describing myasthenia gravis in 1890. In 1934, Dr. Mary Walker of London conducted a successful trial of ...