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[Title Here, up to 12 Words, on One to Two Lines], and Myasthenia gravis
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Multiple sclerosis and Guillain-Barre Syndrome
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease that affects your brain, optic nerves, and your
spinal cord. It affects basic functions such as vision, balance, and muscle movement. MS occurs
when your immune system attacks your myelin. Myelin is a fatty material that wraps around
your nerves and protects them. Your nerves become damaged without this layer of protection.
The brain is the center of the nervous system which sends signals to certain parts of the body to
perform functions. With damaged nerves, your brain can not send out signals correctly.
Symptoms of MS include muscle weakness, blurred vision, numbness, and poor bladder or
bowel control. It's first occurrence appears between the ages of 20 and 40. Scientists do not know
what causes MS. There is no cure for MS but, there are treatments to improve quality of life for
select symptoms and to help with nerve damage and slow down MS. Drugs such as Cladribrine
and Dalfampridine can help with slow down MS and nerve damage. Guillain-Barre Syndrome is
a defect in the nervous system that can cause muscle weakness, reflex loss, and numbness or
tingling in parts of your body. (“What is the best treatment for Guillain-Barre Syndrome?”) It can
lead to temporary paralysis. GBS most occurs in people 50 years of age or older. GBS occurs
your immune system begins attacking your nerves which weakens their ability to send signals to
and from the brain. Your body will start to function abnormally because it's receiving less
signals. Scientists are not sure if GBS is caused by a germ or a virus. 85% of people with GBS
make full recovery in extreme cases. Treatment for GBS can include plasmapheresis,
immunoglobulin, or antibodies. GBS and MS are similar but not the same. The affects the
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nervous system in two different parts. MS damages the central nervous system while GBS affects
the peripheral nervous system.
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Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular disease that causes numbness and weakness in the skeletal
muscles that worsens after activity and improves after having rest. (“COVID-19 may trigger
autoimmune disease myasthenia gravis ...”) The disease affects locomotive parts of the body and
breathing such as the arms and legs. Symptoms if Myasthenia gravis include, droopy eyelids,
blurred vision, shortness of breath, and numbness or weakness in the arms, legs, hands, fingers,
and neck. Myasthenia gravis is a autoimmune disease so, it caused by a self-attacking immune
system. Myasthenia gravis is caused by an error in nerve muscle communication-an interruption
at the neuromuscular junction. Neuromuscular junction is where cells connect with their muscles.
Myasthenia gravis is caused by the blocking, alteration, or destruction of receptors for
acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction. This is caused by antibodies to acetylcholine
receptors being released by the immune system. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that neurons
communicate information with cells. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter and activates muscle
movement by a binding to its acetylcholine receptors. The thymus gland has been associated with
Myasthenia gravis because it may give incorrect instructions to developing immune cells,
ultimately causing the immune system to attack its own cells and tissues. (“Myasthenia Gravis
fact sheet - National Institute of ...”) Myasthenia gravis effect men an women but usually women
under 40 and me over 60 but can occur at anytime. Myasthenia gravis is treated by controlling it
using various forms. A thymectomy is an operation that removes the thymus gland. (“Myasthenia
Gravis Disability Tax Credit - Disability ...”) Monoclonal antibody attempts to eliminate the
acetylcholine antibodies by use of eculizumab. Anticholinesterase medications,
immunosuppressive drugs, and plasmapheresis and intravenous immunoglobulin are treatments
for Myasthenia gravis. Plasmapheresis is when a machine removes harmful antibodies and
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replace them with good plasma or a plasma substitute. Intravenous immunoglobulin is an
injection of antibodies pooled by removing the antibodies that cause myasthenia gravis.
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References
WebMD. (n.d.). Multiple sclerosis: What is ms? overview, risk factors & outlook. WebMD.
Retrieved November 11, 2021, from https://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis/what-ismultiple-sclerosis.
WebMD. (n.d.). Guillain-Barre Syndrome: What it is and how it's treated. WebMD. Retrieved
November 11, 2021, from https://www.webmd.com/brain/what-is-guillain-barre.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Myasthenia gravis fact sheet. National
Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Retrieved November 11, 2021, from
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/FactSheets/Myasthenia-Gravis-Fact-Sheet.
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