Myasthenia in Children

Jayawant S. ed. Myasthenia in Children. Clinics in Developmental Medicine. 1st ed. London, United Kingdom: Mac Keith Press; 2020 (130 pages). ISBN: 978–1-911612–29–2. £ 65.00

Although disorders of the neuromuscular junction are rare in children, they usually have significant therapeutic implications. In recent years, new developments in molecular genetics and immunology have changed the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to these diseases.

Sandeep Jayawant and his collaborators made the effort to summarize all current knowledge in this field in a monograph to provide the reader with a well-founded overview. Most, but not all authors come from a British institution with many years of experience in the field of myasthenia and myasthenic syndromes. The book is aimed primarily at (pediatric) neurologists and neuromuscular specialists who wish to gain a deeper insight.

It covers aspects of the anatomy and physiology of the neuromuscular junction. The current knowledge of the molecular structure is presented in a detailed description and in informative graphics. It gives a detailed overview of diagnostic techniques such as molecular genetics and clinical neurophysiology. In the field of clinical neurophysiology, a more detailed description of stimulated single-fiber electromyography would have been helpful.

The authors provide a description of the clinical symptoms and signs of myasthenia gravis and myasthenic syndromes, as well as practical aspects of pharmacological treatment and rehabilitation. There are useful tables where the reader can find information about different therapeutic strategies at a glance. A list of drugs with negative effects on the neuromuscular junction would be helpful in a future issue (or a link to a page showing the problematic drugs).

In addition, the increasing number of neuromuscular diseases with secondary defects of neuromuscular transmission is discussed. This aspect may open therapeutic options for at least some of these children.

Due to the fact that several authors have contributed to the book, overlaps between the individual chapters are inevitable. Some introductions to topics, such as epidemiology, are quite extensive repetitions of facts that are discussed in detail in other chapters. Nevertheless, the book contains much valuable information. The clear structure of the book helps to find the information quickly.

In summary, the book is a valuable monograph for anyone concerned with children with neuromuscular transmission disorders.

Publication History

Article published online:
20 January 2021