What is Myasthenia Gravis, or MG?
- A rare neuromuscular, autoimmune disorder.
- Causes extreme fatigue and profound muscle weakness.
- Impulses from the brain travel down nerves but are blocked by antibodies before impulses reach muscle. The body is essentially attacking itself and stopping muscle function.
- Can impact a person’s ability to see, swallow, smile, walk, breathe, or engage in normal, everyday activity.
- First documented by an Oxford, England physician named Thomas Willis in 1672.
What are myasthenia gravis symptoms?
- Drooping eyelids
- Double vision
- Trouble smiling
- Trouble breathing or swallowing
- Extremely weak arms, hands, or legs
- Profound tiredness
- Impeded mobility and movement
Who gets myasthenia gravis?
- Anyone can be diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, though it’s more common in adults than children.
- Women under 40 and men over 60 are more likely to be diagnosed with myasthenia gravis.
- MG can occur regardless of race, gender, and age.
- More than 70,000 people are diagnosed with myasthenia gravis in the United States alone.
How do you diagnose myasthenia gravis?
- A neurologist or neuromuscular specialist usually diagnoses myasthenia gravis with a blood test or specialty tensile tests.
- It can be diagnosed with other kinds of tests as well.
- Learn more about these tests.
How do you treat myasthenia gravis?
- There is no cure for myasthenia gravis, but there are treatments to manage symptoms.
- Learn more about treatment strategies.
What is the prognosis for people with myasthenia gravis?
The outlook for most people with MG is positive, as current treatment options are often effective.
- For most people, myasthenia gravis is a chronic condition.
- While existing treatments do not cure myasthenia gravis, most patients have improved muscle strength and some even experience remission.
- New advances in research and clinical trials are helping us understand more about MG every day.
- MGFA is committed to driving and supporting research towards a better understanding and a cure for MG.
What should you know about having myasthenia gravis?
- Everyone’s disease presents a little differently – that’s why myasthenia is known as a “snowflake disease.”
- Myasthenia can be difficult to diagnose. Some people go years without a correct diagnosis.
- Myasthenia symptoms often improve with rest.
- Symptoms can fluctuate throughout the day, week by week, or month by month.
- People with MG are so much stronger than their weakest moments!
- Learn more about MG from the MG community.