Myasthenia Gravis

Myasthenia Gravis is a neuromuscular disease that causes muscle weakness and leaves the affected person feeling extremely fatigued. Myasthenia gravis is caused by a defect where the nerve impulses are transferred to the muscles. The immune system causes poor communication between the nerves and muscles by producing antibodies that block or destroy the receptor sites, or acetylcholine, in the muscles. With less receptor sites available, muscles receive fewer nerve signals, resulting in weakness. All muscles can be affected by myasthenia gravis.http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/myasthenia_gravis/detail_myasthenia_gravis.htm

Congenital myasthenia gravis is an inherited form of myasthenia gravis. It affects the transmission of signals to the muscles. Congenital myasthenia gravis differs from myathenia gravis, as it is not an autoimmune disease. With congenital myasthenia gravis, symptoms are developed early in childhood which lead to an early diagnosis.http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/congenital_myasthenia/congenital_myasthenia.htm

Patients with myasthenia gravis generally have weak muscles in their eyes, eyelids, mouth, face, neck and limb muscles. With myasthenia gravis you can easily tell when a person is at their weakest due to slurring of words, eyes looking closed, and a plain look on their face. The more often a muscle is used, the weaker it becomes.http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/myasthenia_gravis/detail_myasthenia_gravis.htm

Myasthenia gravis is a progressive disease. Over time, the muscles do become weaker, and the person with the disorder will not be able to function as well as they once did.http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/myasthenia_gravis/detail_myasthenia_gravis.htm

The common symptoms of mysathenia gravis, which could point to a number of other conditions, make it difficult to detect earlier on in those afflicted by the disease. The patient's medical history is first reviewed, followed by neurological and physical examinations. A blood test can be used to determine the level of acetylcholine receptor antibodies in the body. A person with mysathenia gravis has heightened levels of the receptors.http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/myasthenia_gravis/detail_myasthenia_gravis.htm

The edrophonium test involves giving patients a dose of edrophonium chloride, which temporarily relieves the muscles that are afflicted by mysathenia gravis. Other diagnosis methods include nerve stimulation tests, Single fiber electromyography , Pulmonary function testing and diagnostic imaging.http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/myasthenia_gravis/detail_myasthenia_gravis.htm

The most common form of treatment for Myasthenia gravis is the drug Mestinon. Mestinon works by preventing the breakdown of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, allowing more acetylcholine to accumulate. By following the treatment plans provided by their doctors patients with this disease can expect to live a nearly normal life with myasthenia gravis.http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/myasthenia_gravis/detail_myasthenia_gravis.htm http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000618

Another method of treatment for myasthenia gravis includes the surgical procedure called "thymectomy," in which the thymus gland is removed from the patient. There is also plasmapheresis, a treatment which involves removing abnormal antibodies from the body in the form of a serum. The serum also replaces the cells with high-dose intravenous immune globulin which temporarily bolsters the immune system through donated blood.http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/myasthenia_gravis/detail_myasthenia_gravis.htm http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000618

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact a doctor before using the information presented here.