Edrophonium Health Dictionary

  1. Health Encyclopedia
  2. Edrophonium

Edrophonium: From 1 Different Sources

n. an *anticholinesterase drug that is used after surgery to reverse the effects of nondepolarizing *muscle relaxants and in a test for diagnosis of *myasthenia gravis. Side-effects can include nausea and vomiting, increased saliva flow, diarrhoea, and stomach pains.

EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) see edetate.

Health Source: Oxford | Concise Colour Medical Dictionary
Author: Jonathan Law, Elizabeth Martin

Myasthenia Gravis

A rare disorder in which the muscles become weak and tire easily. The muscles of the eyes, face, throat, and limbs are most commonly affected.

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder. In many cases, abnormalities in the thymus gland are present, and in some cases a thymoma is found. Women are affected more often than men.

The disease is extremely variable in its effects. In most cases, it causes drooping eyelids, double vision, a blank facial expression, and a weak, hoarse, nasal voice that is hesitant and becomes slurred during extended conversation. The arm and leg muscles may also be affected. In severe cases, the respiratory muscles may become weakened, causing breathing difficulty.

Diagnosis of the condition is often made by injecting the drug edrophonium into a vein. This temporarily restores power to the weak muscles. Blood tests and EMG are also sometimes used. CT scanning or MRI may also be performed to look for a thymoma.Treatment with drugs that facilitate transmission of nerve impulses often restores the patient’s condition to near normal.

In some cases, the condition often improves, and is sometimes cured by thymectomy (removal of the thymus gland).

Regular exchanges of the patient’s plasma for fresh plasma may be carried out in severe cases.

Corticosteroid drugs may be given.

In a minority of patients, paralysis of the throat and respiratory muscles may lead to death.... myasthenia gravis

Anticholinesterase

n. any substance that inhibits the action of *cholinesterase, the enzyme that is responsible for the breakdown of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, and therefore allows acetylcholine to continue transmitting nerve impulses. Drugs with anticholinesterase activity include *neostigmine, *pyridostigmine, and *edrophonium; their uses include the diagnosis and treatment of *myasthenia gravis. See also parasympathomimetic.... anticholinesterase

Health encyclopedia icon Health Encyclopedia

Recent Searches