Myasthenia
Myasthenia gravis is a long-term neuromuscular disease that leads to varying degrees of skeletal muscle weakness. The most commonly affected muscles are those of the eyes, face, and swallowing. It can result in double vision, drooping eyelids, trouble talking, and trouble walking. Onset can be sudden. Those affected often have a large thymus or develop a thymoma.
Signs and symptoms[edit | edit source]
Myasthenia gravis is often associated with weakness in the voluntary skeletal muscles of the body. The weakness most often starts in the muscles around the eyes, causing drooping of the eyelids (ptosis) and difficulty focusing and looking at different objects (diplopia).
Causes[edit | edit source]
Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease which results from antibodies that block or destroy nicotinic acetylcholine receptors at the junction between the nerve and muscle. This prevents nerve impulses from triggering muscle contractions.
Diagnosis[edit | edit source]
The diagnosis of myasthenia gravis is made by identifying the characteristic clinical features along with evidence of defective neuromuscular transmission shown by electromyography, or by the presence of serum acetylcholine receptor antibodies.
Treatment[edit | edit source]
Treatment includes medication to improve neuromuscular transmission and to suppress the production of abnormal antibodies. The disease can be controlled with treatment, but complete remission without treatment is uncommon.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Myasthenia Resources | |
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD