Knowra Cholinergic crisis Cholinergic crisis A life-threatening state of excessive acetylcholine activity that overstimulates muscarinic and nicotinic receptors, causing secretions, weakness, and potentially respiratory failure.
Acetylcholine : A neurotransmitter that carries signals across synapses in the brain, autonomic nervous system, and neuromuscular junction. Its accumulation or excessive receptor stimulation drives the crisis.
Organophosphate poisoning : Poisoning by organophosphate chemicals that inhibit acetylcholinesterase, often causing a cholinergic syndrome. It is a major cause of acute cholinergic crisis after pesticide exposure or nerve-agent exposure.
Myasthenic crisis : A life-threatening worsening of myasthenia gravis that causes severe weakness and may impair breathing or swallowing. Both crises can cause respiratory weakness, but myasthenic crisis reflects inadequate neuromuscular transmission rather than excess cholinergic activity.
Parasympathetic nervous system : The autonomic division that supports functions such as digestion, glandular secretion, and energy conservation. Excess parasympathetic signaling accounts for many muscarinic symptoms in the crisis.
Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor : A G-protein-coupled receptor activated by acetylcholine in the brain and organs including the heart, glands, and smooth muscle. Overstimulation causes secretions, bronchoconstriction, slow heart rate, and other parasympathetic effects.
Carbamate poisoning : Poisoning by carbamate compounds that reversibly inhibit acetylcholinesterase. Carbamate insecticides can cause a similar crisis, though enzyme inhibition is usually shorter-lived.
Myasthenia gravis : An autoimmune disorder in which antibodies impair communication between nerves and skeletal muscles, commonly by targeting acetylcholine receptors. Its weakness may be mistaken for cholinergic crisis, especially when acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are used.
Somatic nervous system : The nervous system pathways that control skeletal muscles and carry sensory information to the central nervous system. Its motor pathway uses acetylcholine, so receptor overstimulation can disrupt skeletal-muscle function.
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor : A ligand-gated ion channel activated by acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction, autonomic ganglia, and parts of the brain. Excess activation first causes muscle twitching and can progress to weakness or paralysis.
Cholinergic toxidrome : A recognizable pattern of illness caused by excessive cholinergic activity, including secretions, bronchospasm, muscle effects, and altered mental status. Clinicians use this symptom pattern to identify a likely cholinergic emergency.
Show all 22