What is Myasthenia Gravis?

Myasthenia gravis makes the muscles under your control weak and tire easily. This occurs when the communication between nerves and muscles fails.

Myasthenia gravis has no cure. Treatment may alleviate symptoms. Symptoms may be weakness of arm or leg muscles, double vision, drooping eyelids, and difficulty with speaking, chewing, swallowing, and breathing.

This illness may develop in individuals at any age, but it is more common in women under 40 and in men over 60.

What are the Symptoms of Myasthenia gravis?

Muscle weakness due to myasthenia gravis worsens with increased use of the affected muscle. Because the symptoms tend to improve with rest, muscle weakness may be absent. But the symptoms get worse over time. They typically worsen within several years after the onset of the disease.

Myasthenia gravis can occur in any of the muscles that you can move. Some groups of muscles are more likely to be affected than others.

Eye Muscles

In over half of the individuals who develop myasthenia gravis, their initial symptoms involve the eyes. Symptoms are:

• Drooping of one or both eyelids, referred to as ptosis.
• Double vision, referred to as diplopia, can be horizontal or vertical and improves or disappears when one eye is closed.

Face and Throat Muscles

In roughly 15% of individuals with myasthenia gravis, the initial symptoms include the face and throat muscles. These symptoms may:

• Make it hard to speak: Your voice may sound weak or nasal, depending on the muscles involved.
• Make it hard to swallow: You may choke a lot, so it's hard to eat, drink, or swallow pills. Occasionally, liquids you are attempting to swallow exit through your nose.
• Influence chewing: The chewing muscles may tire halfway through a meal. This is particularly common if you have been consuming something difficult to chew, like steak.
• Make facial expressions: For instance, your smile would appear to be a snarl.

Neck and Arm Muscles

Myasthenia gravis may also result in weakness of the neck, arms and legs. Weakness of the legs may impair walking. Weak neck muscles make it difficult to support the head.

What causes Myasthenia Gravis?

Myasthenia gravis (autoimmune type) occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your body. Researchers do not know why this occurs. Research indicates that some immune system cells within your thymus gland are unable to distinguish between what's harmful to your body (such as bacteria or viruses) and healthy parts.

A genetic mutation leads to congenital myasthenia. Antibodies transferred from a mother during pregnancy from a birth mother to a fetus lead to neonatal myasthenia.

How is myasthenia gravis diagnosed?

To diagnose myasthenia gravis, your doctor will take a physical examination and ask specific questions to gain more information about your symptoms and medical history. Testing verifies a diagnosis. It may involve:

• Blood antibody tests: Approximately 85% of individuals with myasthenia gravis have unusually high amounts of acetylcholine receptor antibodies in the blood. Roughly 6% of diagnosed individuals have muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) antibodies.
• Imaging scans: An MRI or CT scan can detect thymus gland issues, such as tumors.
• Electromyography (EMG): An EMG takes a reading of the electrical function of muscles and nerves. The test identifies communication issues between muscles and nerves.

Myasthenia Gravis Stages

There are five major categories of myasthenia gravis that your doctor will use during a diagnosis:

• Class I: Muscle weakness only in your eyes (ocular muscle).
• Class II: Muscle weakness is slight.
• Class III: Muscle weakness is moderate.
• Class IV: Muscle weakness is serious.
• Class V: Serious muscle weakness impacts breathing. You can be intubated or supported with mechanical ventilation.

How is Myasthenia Gravis treated?

No cure exists for myasthenia gravis. But the right treatment helps you control your symptoms. These treatments may involve:

• Medications: Some drugs can decrease symptoms.
• Monoclonal antibodies: You will receive infusions of proteins through an IV (intravenous) or under your skin (subcutaneous). These proteins help control an overactive immune system.
• Plasma Exchange (Plasmapheresis): A machine uses an IV to take out harmful antibodies from your blood plasma. It replaces them with donor plasma or a plasma solution.
• IV or SQ immunoglobulin (IVIG or SCIG): You will receive IV infusions of donor antibodies for two to five days. IVIG or SCIG can help treat myasthenia crisis and generalized myasthenia gravis.
• Surgery: A thymectomy is surgery to remove the thymus gland.

Myasthenia Gravis Medications

Common medications to treat myasthenia gravis include:

• Cholinesterase inhibitors (anticholinesterase): They enhance communication between nerves and muscles to help increase muscle strength.
• Immunosuppressants: Drugs such as corticosteroids reduce inflammation and lower your body's production of abnormal antibodies.
• Side effects may occur with these drugs: Discuss this with your healthcare provider to find out more before taking a new drug.

How can I relieve myasthenia gravis symptoms?

If you have myasthenia gravis, follow these steps to relieve fatigue and increase muscle strength:

• Exercise regularly to strengthen muscles, boost your mood and give you more energy. Talk to your healthcare provider before starting an exercise program to make sure it's safe.
• Avoid going outside on a hot day. Use cold compresses on your neck and forehead when you overheated. Heat can exacerbate your symptoms.
• Eat plenty of protein and carbohydrates in your meals for extra energy.
• Do your most draining activities earlier in the day when you're most alert.
• Nap or take rest breaks during the day.

What is the prognosis for myasthenia gravis?

Myasthenia gravis can be treated. The symptoms vary from mild to severe. The symptoms usually become most severe within one to three years after the first diagnosis.

Most individuals with the condition have full and active lives with treatment.

Some cases go into remission: Remission is when your symptoms stop for a period. This might be temporary or permanent. If remission occurs, your treatment plan might be changed by your healthcare provider.

What is the life expectancy of someone with myasthenia gravis?

Most individuals have a normal life expectancy with myasthenia gravis. Life-threatening complications can occur during a myasthenic crisis, which compromises your breathing.

How does pregnancy affect myasthenia gravis?

In rare cases, pregnancy can cause myasthenia gravis symptoms to appear for the first time. If you already have this condition, your symptoms may get worse during the first trimester or shortly after you give birth. In others, myasthenia gravis symptoms get better during pregnancy.

Some treatments aren't safe during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Your healthcare provider can help you navigate this period and support a healthy pregnancy.

When do I need to see a healthcare provider?

You call your healthcare provider if you have:

• Blurred or double vision.
• Trouble walking, talking, or eating.
• Severe muscle weakness or fatigue.
• Shortness of breath.

Why choose Tender Palm Super Specialty Hospital for Myasthenia Gravis treatment in Lucknow, India?

Tender Palm Super Speciality Hospital offers advanced Myasthenia Gravis treatment in Lucknow at an affordable cost. We have a team of experienced neurologists, neuroimmunology specialists, critical care experts, and rehabilitation specialists who provide accurate diagnosis, personalized neurological care, and advanced treatment for Myasthenia Gravis. Our neurosciences team has extensive experience in successfully treating Myasthenia Gravis in Lucknow, India.

To seek an Expert Consultation for Myasthenia Gravis treatment in Lucknow, India:

Call us at +91-9076972161
Email at care@tenderpalm.com

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