Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system gradually destroys the receptors for acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction. Which of the following drugs might initially be useful in treating the symptoms of this disease?

A, a drug that inhibits acetylcholinesterase
B, a drug that inhibits release of acetylcholine
C, curare
D, atropine (a muscarinic acethylcholine receptor antagonist)
E, a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist

Myasthenia gravis is a disease that can manifest at any age, but usually affects more women than men, between 20 and 35 years. The main feature of myasthenia gravis is muscle weakness due to disturbances in acetylcholine receptors located in the plaque between the nerves and muscles. This interferes with the transmission of the nerve impulse and weakens the striated skeletal muscles.

A drug that could initially be useful in treating the symptoms of this disease would be an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor that blocks or inhibits the enzymes from destroying acetylcholine as it moves from cell to cell. This means that acetylcholine, which is found in lower concentrations in people with myasthenia gravis, is not destroyed so quickly, which leads to a greater possibility of passing to the next nerve cell.