This paper reports observations made at St Bartholomew's Hospital on myasthenics in pregnancy and labour over a period of fifteen years. Myasthenia gravis is a rare condition not fully understood, characterized by muscular weakness which may be local or general. It may start locally, classically affecting the muscles of the eye or face and becoming general with natural remissions and exacerbations. The persistently local form of this disease seems commoner in the older age groups and our cases would be classified as general of moderate or severe degree. The disorder affects both sexes and as it has a propensity for young women must coincide occasionally with pregnancy. We have had 12 such patients, with 21 pregnancies.
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