Neuromuscular medicine

{{Short description|Specialty of medicine that focuses on neuromuscular diseases}}

Neuromuscular medicine is a subspecialty of neurology and physiatry that focuses the diagnosis and management of neuromuscular diseases. The field encompasses issues related to both diagnosis and management of these conditions, including rehabilitation interventions to optimize the quality of life of individuals with these conditions.{{cite journal | vauthors = McDonald CM, Fowler WM | title = The role of the neuromuscular medicine and physiatry specialists in the multidisciplinary management of neuromuscular disease | journal = Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America | volume = 23 | issue = 3 | pages = 475–493 | date = August 2012 | pmid = 22938874 | pmc = 3482408 | doi = 10.1016/j.pmr.2012.06.010 }} This field encompasses disorders that impact both adults and children and which can be inherited or acquired, typically from an autoimmune disease.{{cite journal | vauthors = Morrison BM | title = Neuromuscular Diseases | journal = Seminars in Neurology | volume = 36 | issue = 5 | pages = 409–418 | date = October 2016 | pmid = 27704495 | doi = 10.1055/s-0036-1586263 | s2cid = 13937705 }} A neurologist or physiatrist can diagnose these diseases through a clinical history, examination, and electromyography including nerve conduction studies.  Many recent drug therapies have been developed to address the acquired neuromuscular diseases including but not limited to immune suppression and drugs that increase the neurotransmitters at the neuromuscular junction.{{cite journal | vauthors = Thornton CA, Griggs RC | title = Plasma exchange and intravenous immunoglobulin treatment of neuromuscular disease | journal = Annals of Neurology | volume = 35 | issue = 3 | pages = 260–268 | date = March 1994 | pmid = 8122878 | doi = 10.1002/ana.410350304 | s2cid = 42256684 }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Gilhus NE, Verschuuren JJ | title = Myasthenia gravis: subgroup classification and therapeutic strategies | journal = The Lancet. Neurology | volume = 14 | issue = 10 | pages = 1023–1036 | date = October 2015 | pmid = 26376969 | doi = 10.1016/S1474-4422(15)00145-3 | s2cid = 19615369 }}  Gene modifying therapies are also a recent treatment branch of neuromuscular medicine with advancements made in disorders such as spinal muscular atrophy and Duchenne muscular dystrophy.{{cite journal | vauthors = Mendell JR, Al-Zaidy SA, Rodino-Klapac LR, Goodspeed K, Gray SJ, Kay CN, Boye SL, Boye SE, George LA, Salabarria S, Corti M, Byrne BJ, Tremblay JP | display-authors = 6 | title = Current Clinical Applications of In Vivo Gene Therapy with AAVs | journal = Molecular Therapy | volume = 29 | issue = 2 | pages = 464–488 | date = February 2021 | pmid = 33309881 | pmc = 7854298 | doi = 10.1016/j.ymthe.2020.12.007 }}