
MYASTHENIA GRAVIS
Myasthenia gravis. The way your nerves and muscles communicate is impacted by myasthenia gravis. Muscle weakness results, which gets worse with activities and throughout the day. Double vision and/or drooping eyelids are frequently the initial symptoms. You can have trouble speaking, swallowing, standing, and lifting things. The symptoms of this chronic condition can be lessened with medication and surgery.
MYASTHENIA GRAVIS
In myasthenia gravis (MG), the body’s immune system unintentionally targets the neuromuscular junction, the point where muscles and nerves communicate, resulting in fluctuating weakness of skeletal muscles, mainly those controlling chewing, swallowing, speaking, eye and facial movements, and limb movements. MG is a chronic autoimmune condition disorder.
Types

The etiology of autoimmune myasthenia is unknown; however, it is most likely due to the creation of specific antibodies (immune system proteins). This is the most prevalent kind.
A fetus with myasthenia gravis receives specific antibodies from its birth mother, which causes neonatal myasthenia. A baby may be born with a faint cry or sucking reflex. These transient symptoms typically disappear after three months.
Congenital myopathy
Ocular: Your eyelids’ and eyes’ moving muscles deteriorate. You might have trouble keeping your eyes open or your eyelids may droop. Double vision happens to some people. The initial symptom of myasthenia is frequently eye weakness. For about 50% of those with ocular myasthenia gravis, the condition may progress to the generalized form.
Eye muscles, as well as those in your face, neck, arms, legs, and throat, are all affected by generalized muscle weakness. Speaking or swallowing, raising your arms above your head, getting out of a chair, walking long distances, and climbing stairs may become challenging for you.
Symptoms
Myasthenia gravis symptoms can include weakness in the arms, hands, fingers, legs, and neck muscles.
Fatigue.
eyelid drooping (ptosis).
double or blurry vision.
restricted expressions on the face.
difficulty swallowing, chewing, or speaking.
Walking is difficult.
Myasthenia gravis’s early symptoms appear suddenly. Generally speaking, being active weakens your muscles. When you rest, your muscles become stronger again. Muscle weakness frequently varies in intensity from day to day. At the beginning of the day, most people feel their strongest, and at the end of the day, their weakest.
Causes
When your body’s immune system unintentionally targets itself, you can develop myasthenia gravis (autoimmune type). Why this occurs is unknown to researchers. According to studies, some immune system cells in the thymus gland may struggle to distinguish between substances that are healthy and those that pose a harm to your body, such as bacteria or viruses. Congenital myasthenia is brought on by a genetic mutation. Neonatal myasthenia is brought on by antibodies that are transferred from the birth mother to the fetus during pregnancy.
Treatment

For myasthenia gravis, there is no known treatment. However, there is a useful medication that might help you control your symptoms. Possible treatments include:
Pharmaceuticals: Some drugs can lessen your symptoms.
Monoclonal antibodies: You will be given biologically modified proteins either intravenously (IV) or subcutaneously (SQ). When the immune system is overactive, these proteins dampen it.
Plasma exchange, also known as plasmapheresis, is a procedure in which a machine-connected IV extracts dangerous antibodies from your blood plasma and substitutes them with donor plasma or a plasma solution.
Donor antibodies will be infused into your veins over the course of two to five days using IV or SQ immunoglobulin (IVIG or SCIG). Both myasthenia crises and generalized myasthenia gravis can be treated with IVIG or SCIG.
Surgery to remove the thymus gland is called a thymectomy.
Summary
Living with a chronic condition like myasthenia gravis is difficult. You may feel too weak or exhausted to engage in physical activity when you want to. Over time, this may have a negative impact on your physical and mental well-being. With treatment, the majority of persons with this ailment enjoy active, complete lives despite the lack of a cure. It is quite uncommon for myasthenia gravis to cause severe disability. To help you feel better, your healthcare professional might offer symptom management advice.