Myasthenia Gravis: Symptoms, Causes, diagnosis and treatment.

CAUSES | SYMPTOMS | DIAGNOSIS |
TREATMENT

 Myasthenia Gravis is a neuromuscular disorder primarily
characterized by muscle weakness and muscle fatigue.
Although the disorder usually becomes apparent during
adulthood, symptom onset may occur at any age.
 The condition may be restricted to certain muscle groups,
particularly those of the eyes (ocular myasthenia gravis), or
may become more generalized (generalized myasthenia
gravis), involving multiple muscle groups.
 Most individuals with myasthenia gravis develop weakness
and drooping of the eyelids (ptosis) weakness of eye
muscles, resulting in double vision (diplopia) and excessive
muscle fatigue following activity.

 Myasthenia Gravis is a neuromuscular disorder that is
usually caused by an autoimmune problem.
 Autoimmune disorders occur when the immune system
mistakenly attacks healthy tissue.
 In this condition, antibodies (proteins which normally
attack foreign, harmful substances in the body) attack the
neurotransmitter substance called acetylcholine, which is a
crucial substance for nerve cell and muscle
communication.
 This results in the muscle weakness that characterizes the
condition. The exact cause of this autoimmune reaction is
unclear to the doctors.

Symptoms may include:
 Trouble talking
 Problems walking up stairs or lifting objects
 Facial paralysis
 Difficulty breathing because of muscle weakness
 Difficulty swallowing or chewing
 Fatigue
 Hoarse voice
 Drooping of eyelid
 Double vision

Your doctor will perform a complete physical exam, as well
as take a detailed history of symptoms. He or she will also do
a neurological exam. This may consist of:
Checking your reflexes
 Looking for muscle weakness
 Checking for muscle tone
 Making certain your eyes move properly
 Testing sensation in different areas of your body
 Seeing if you can perform certain movements, like
touching your finger to your nose

Other tests that can help your doctor diagnose the condition
include:
 Repetitive nerve stimulation test
 Blood testing for antibodies associated with Myasthenia
Gravis
 Edrophonium (Tensilon) test: a drug called Tensilon (or a
placebo) is injected, and the patient is asked to perform
muscle movements under doctor observation
 Imaging of the chest, using CT scans or MRI, to rule out a
tumour

Common treatments for myasthenia gravis include:
 Medications such as Mestinon (pyridostigmine bromide)
and Prostigmin (neostigmine bromide)
 Corticosteroid medications such as prednisone
 Medications that suppress the immune system, such as
Imuran (azathioprine) and cyclosporine
 Removal of the thymus gland (thymectomy), the main gland
in the immune system
 Plasma exchange (plasmapheresis), in which the person's
blood plasma containing the abnormal antibodies is
removed and fresh plasma is put back

Myasthenia gravis cannot be prevented, but avoiding the
following triggers may help patients prevent exacerbation:
 Emotional stress
 Exposure to extreme temperatures
 Fever
 Illness (e.g., respiratory infection, pneumonia, tooth
abscess)
 Low levels of potassium in the blood (hypokalemia; caused
by diuretics, frequent vomiting)
 Medications (e.g., muscle relaxants, anticonvulsants,
certain antibiotics)
 Overexertion

Myasthenia Gravis: Symptoms, Causes, diagnosis and treatment.

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