A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V Q X Y Z
- Agrin: protein compound integral in the development of the neuromuscular junction
- Acetylcholine: a compound that occurs throughout the nervous system, functioning as a neurotransmitter
- Acetylcholine receptors (AChR): an integral membrane protein that responds to the binding of acetylcholine
- Autoimmune: the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the body’s own cells and tissues
- Congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS): term used for a group of uncommon, hereditary disorders of the neuromuscular junction, different from the more common autoimmune myasthenia gravis
- Corticosteroid: medication that suppresses the body’s production of antibodies
- Diplopia: double vision
- Dysphonia: voice disorder
- Dysarthria: slurred speech
- Dysphagia: difficulty swallowing
- Edrophonium: a drug that prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine, allowing the clinician to understand your muscle response and whether the results are consistent with an MG diagnosis
- Electromyography (EMG): Repetitive nerve stimulations (RNS) applying electrical shocks are often used to gauge muscle response and action potential and whether results are consistent with an MG diagnosis
- Exacerbation: also known as flare-up, symptoms increase in frequency and/ or become more severe
- Immunosuppressant: medication that suppresses the body’s production of antibodies
- Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS): an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues at the neuromuscular junction, interfering with the ability of nerve cells to send signals to muscle cells
- MuSK: stands for Muscle-Specific Kinase, a protein
- MuSK receptor: a protein receptor required for the formation and maintenance of the neuromuscular junction
- Myasthenic Crisis: complication of MG characterized by worsening of muscle weakness resulting in respiratory failure
- Neuromuscular junction: site of communication between motor nerves and muscle fibers that facilitates voluntary movement
- Plasmapheresis: see Therapeutic Plasma Exchange
- Ptosis: drooping eyelids
- Refractory: people with MG who do not respond to conventional treatment
- Remission: symptoms disappear completely for some time even without treatment
- Seronegative myasthenia gravis: is a form of MG where autoantibodies (anti-AChR and anti-MuSK autoantibodies) are not detectable in the blood
- Single-fiber electromyography (SFEMG): Detects neuromuscular transmission defects by recording action potentials from individual muscle fibers using a small needle electrode
- Subcutaneous: under the skin
- Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (Plasmapheresis): also known as plasma exchange or PLEX, this is a filtration procedure whereby abnormal antibodies are removed from blood plasma
- Thymectomy: surgical removal of the thymus gland