Editing Acetylcholine (section)

===Myasthenia gravis===

The disease [[myasthenia gravis]], characterized by muscle weakness and fatigue, occurs when the body inappropriately produces [[antibody|antibodies]] against acetylcholine nicotinic receptors, and thus inhibits proper acetylcholine signal transmission.<ref name="Pasnoor_2024">{{cite book | vauthors = Pasnoor M, Wolfe GI, Barohn RJ | title = Neurologic Channelopathies | chapter = Myasthenia gravis | series = Handbook of Clinical Neurology | volume = 203 | pages = 185–203 | date = 2024 | pmid = 39174248 | doi = 10.1016/B978-0-323-90820-7.00006-9 | isbn = 978-0-323-90820-7 }}</ref> Over time, the motor end plate is destroyed. Drugs that competitively inhibit acetylcholinesterase (e.g., [[neostigmine]], [[physostigmine]], or primarily [[pyridostigmine]]) are effective in treating the symptoms of this disorder.<ref name="Crisafulli_2024">{{cite journal | vauthors = Crisafulli S, Boccanegra B, Carollo M, Bottani E, Mantuano P, Trifirò G, De Luca A | title = Myasthenia Gravis Treatment: From Old Drugs to Innovative Therapies with a Glimpse into the Future | journal = CNS Drugs | volume = 38 | issue = 1 | pages = 15–32 | date = January 2024 | pmid = 38212553 | doi = 10.1007/s40263-023-01059-8 | hdl = 11586/461741 | hdl-access = free }}</ref> They allow endogenously released acetylcholine more time to interact with its respective receptor before being inactivated by acetylcholinesterase in the [[synaptic cleft]] (the space between nerve and muscle).