Myasthenia Gravis

Research

The core goal of medical research at Mayo Clinic is improving patient care. Whether through pioneering new treatments for disease or basic molecular research that improves the understanding of how a disease or body mechanism functions, scientists and clinical researchers focus on the patient, Mayo's first priority.

This attitude is evident in myasthenia gravis. A few researchers stand out for their long-term commitment to patients with the disease; their laboratories' important findings have changed the way physicians diagnose and treat myasthenia gravis.

Immunologic basis of myasthenia gravis - Vanda Lennon, M.D., Ph.D.. Dr. Lennon has been one of the leading researchers in this area for the past 25 years. While it is still unknown why the immune system begins attacking itself in myasthenia gravis, Dr. Lennon's research has improved understanding of how the immune system functions in a patient with the disease. Her laboratory is known internationally for developing and performing serological tests to identify immune system abnormalities used to diagnose myasthenia gravis and a similar condition, Lambert-Eaton syndrome. Through Mayo Medical Laboratories, Dr. Lennon's lab performs thousands of serological tests every year on specimens sent in from around the world.

Congenital myasthenia gravis findings — Andrew Engel, M.D. Dr. Engel has been recognized as a leading expert in myasthenia gravis and Lambert-Eaton syndrome for over 35 years. His muscle research laboratory is responsible for many important research findings in myasthenia. During the past decade, Dr. Engel has collaborated with other Mayo investigators to characterize the congenital forms of myasthenia gravis. Dr. Engel's research has vastly improved the understanding of congenital myasthenias, with impacts on diagnosis and treatment of patients with this less common form of the disease.

In addition to these internationally recognized researchers, Mayo Clinic also participates in multicenter drug trials for medications to treat myasthenia gravis.

Publications

See a list of publications by Mayo Clinic doctors on myasthenia gravis on PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine.