Immunotherapy in the treatment of autoimmune neuromuscular diseases

Abstract

A number of immunotherapies are now increasingly used to treat the autoimmune neuromuscular diseases. The specific treatments and their utilization for particular neuromuscular conditions are discussed in this chapter. This chapter also offers practical guidelines that can help clinicians use immunosuppressive or immunomodulating drugs prudently and safely. In addition, new or emerging therapies used in these diseases, including biological agents (monoclonal antibodies or recombinant proteins), are reviewed. The immunotherapeutic agents are discussed in general in the first part of the chapter, followed by a disease-specific step-by-step approach.