June is Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month

What is Myasthenia Gravis (MG)?

Myasthenia Gravis (pronounced My-as-theen-ee-a Grav-us) comes from the Greek and Latin words meaning “grave muscular weakness.” The most common form of MG is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disorder that is characterized by fluctuating weakness of the voluntary muscle groups. The known prevalence of MG in the United States is estimated to be about 20/100,000 population, but it is probably under diagnosed. Myasthenia Gravis occurs in all races, both genders, and at any age. It is not thought to be directly inherited nor contagious, but occasionally it occurs in more than one member of the same family.

Common symptoms can include:

A drooping eyelid

Blurred or double vision

Slurred speech

Difficulty chewing and swallowing

Weakness in the arms and legs

Chronic muscle fatigue

Difficulty breathing

Treatment:

Treatment decisions and goals are individualized according to each patient, but may include:

Anti-acetylcholinesterase agents

Corticosteriods

Immunosuppressant agents

Thymectomy

Plasmapheresis

Intravenous immune globulins

Monoclonal antibodies are under active clinical trials as a treatment

Prognosis:

No cure

Uncommon but not unheard of are cases of spontaneous improvement or even remission

Current treatments can be effective enough in most patients that their muscle strength improves and they can lead full lives

Myasthenia Gravis Awareness month is helpful in bringing awareness to this disorder.

Information from and to learn more about it, visit the Myasthenia Gravis Fountation of America website.

This information is provided courtesy of the Wyoming AgrAbility Project. For more information, visit our website.

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