Myasthenia Gravis
Foundations & Support
The facts and details you
need to know about
Myasthenia Gravis
If you feel that you are
experiencing any of the symptoms
listed, please consult with your
doctor for further medical
attention. More information and
support can be found on the
organization websites listed below.
Australian Myasthenia Gravis
Association
http://www.myasthenia.org.au/html/diagnos
is.htm
Myasthenia Gravis Association –
KC
http://mgakc.org/
Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of
America
http://www.myasthenia.org/Home.aspx
Group 2A
Meghan Cassady
Ron Harder
Shannon Hulsing
Scott Kramer
Susie Xue
Symptoms, Diagnosis
& Treatment
information inside!
Myasthenia Gravis
What is Myasthenia
Gravis?
MG is an autoimmune disorder
characterized
by
antibodymediated
destruction
of
acetylcholine receptors in the
neuromuscular junction.
It is
unclear
what
triggers
this
autoimmune
response
but
abnormal T-lymphocyte function is
thought to be the mechanism.
About 75% of people with MG
have some sort of thymic
abnormality.
About 10% of infants born to
mothers with MG develop neonatal
MG due to placental transfer of the
acetylcholine receptor antibody.
Symptoms spontaneously resolve
within a few months post birth in
many cases.
Lambert-Eaton
myasthenic
syndrome is a disease that
develops in association with
neoplasms, specifically small cell
carcinoma of the lung.
This
syndrome is also thought to be an
autoimmune process.
Symptoms:
-
-
Impaired Breathing
Impaired
chewing
&
swallowing
Difficulty climbing stairs,
lifting objects, or coming
from sit to stand
Impaired talking
Drooping head or eyelids
Fatigue
Double vision
Facial muscle involvement
Hoarseness
Trouble maintaining steady
gaze
Drooping eyelids is a common symptom
of MG
Diagnosis
-
Blood tests looking for Ach
antibodies
Electro-diagnostic testing
Tensilon test
CT scan, Chest X-Ray or
MRI of thymus
Treatment
There is no known cure for MG,
but there are effective treatments
to control the symptoms. The
primary goal of treatment is to
prevent respiratory problems
because the swallowing, breathing,
and eye muscles are primarily
affected by this condition.
Medications include
anticholinesterage agents,
corticosteroids, and
immunosuppressant agents. Other
treatment options include
plasmapheresis, thymectomy and
physical therapy.
While MG is a rare childhood
disease, there are 3 types;
congenital MG, transient
neonatal MG and juvenile MG.
Neonatal MG last for only a few
weeks whereas congenital and
juvenile MG are life-long
diseases. Most children present
with weakness and difficulty with
breathing or droopy eyelids.
Feeding difficulties will also
present in childhood forms of
MG. Symptoms can differ for
each individual case.