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The purpose of this Web site is to inform people of our services and information about Myastenia Gravis (MG). We hope this website will help someone in distress who is looking for information about(MG). If you need help call: (800) 437-4949 in NJ only or 973-633-6900
What is Myasthenia Gravis?
Myasthenia gravis "serious muscle-weakness"; from Greek μύς "muscle", ἀσθένεια "weakness", and Latin gravis "serious"; abbreviated MG
There is no cure for myasthenia gravis, but treatment can help relieve signs and symptoms — such as weakness of arm or leg muscles, double vision, drooping eyelids, and difficulties with speech, chewing, swallowing and breathing.
While myasthenia gravis can affect people of any age, it's more common in women younger than 40 and in men older than 60. The disorder occurs in one or two people per 15,000.
Symptoms
The hallmark of myasthenia gravis is
fatigability. Muscles become progressively weaker during periods of
activity and improve after periods of rest. Muscles that control eye
and eyelid movement, facial expression, chewing, talking, and
swallowing are especially susceptible. The muscles that control
breathing and neck and limb movements can also be affected. Often
the physical examination is within normal limits.
The onset of the disorder can be
sudden or rapid. Often symptoms are intermittent. The diagnosis of
myasthenia gravis may be delayed if the symptoms are subtle or
variable.
In most cases, the first noticeable symptom is
weakness of the eye muscles. In others, difficulty in swallowing and
slurred speech may be the first signs. The degree of muscle weakness
involved in MG varies greatly among patients, ranging from a
localized form, limited to eye muscles (ocular myasthenia), to a
severe or generalized form in which many muscles - sometimes
including those that control breathing - are affected. Symptoms,
which vary in type and severity, may include asymmetrical ptosis (a
drooping of one or both eyelids), diplopia (double vision) due to
weakness of the muscles that control eye movements, unstable or
waddling gait, weakness in arms, hands, fingers, legs, and neck, a
change in facial expression, dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing),
shortness of breath and dysarthria (impaired speech, often nasal due
to weakness of the velar muscles).
In myasthenic crisis a paralysis of the
respiratory muscles occurs, necessitating assisted ventilation to
sustain life. In patients whose respiratory muscles are already
weak, crises may be triggered by infection, fever, an adverse
reaction to medication, or emotional stress. Since the heart muscle
is stimulated differently, it is never affected by MG.
Eye muscles
In more than half the people who develop myasthenia gravis, their
first signs and symptoms involve eye problems, such as:
- Drooping of one or both eyelids (ptosis)
- Double vision (diplopia), which may be horizontal or vertical
- Blurred vision, which may come and go
Face and throat muscles
In about 15 percent of people with myasthenia gravis, the first
symptoms involve face and throat muscles, which can cause
difficulties with:
- Speaking. Your speech may be very soft or sound nasal, depending upon which muscles have been affected.
- Swallowing. You may choke very easily, which makes it difficult to eat, drink or take pills. In some cases, liquids you're trying to swallow may come out your nose.
- Chewing. The muscles used for chewing may wear out halfway through a meal, particularly if you've been eating something hard to chew, such as steak.
- Facial expressions. Family members may note that you've "lost your smile" if the muscles that control your facial expressions are affected.
Arm and leg muscles
Myasthenia gravis can cause weakness in your arms and legs, but this
usually happens in conjunction with muscle weakness in other parts
of your body — such as your eyes, face or throat. The disorder
usually affects arms more often than legs. However, if it affects
your legs, you may waddle when you walk.
When to see a doctor
Talk to your doctor if you have trouble:
- Breathing
- Seeing
- Swallowing
- Chewing
- Walking
Detailed view of a neuromuscular junction:
1. Presynaptic terminal
2. Sarcolemma
3. Synaptic vesicle
4. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor
5. Mitochondrion
Ptosis of the left eye.
The thymus. Displayed thymus is relatively large, since it is a juvenile thymus.
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