Gourt > Health > Conditions and Diseases > Immune Disorders > Auto Immune > Myasthenia Gravis (7)
Myasthenia gravis (sometimes abbreviated MG; from the Greek myastheneia, lit. 'muscle weakness', and Latin gravis, lit. 'serious') is a neuromuscular disease leading to fluctuating weakness and fatiguability. At about 14 cases per 100,000 (in the U.S.), it is one of the best known autoimmune disorders. The antigens and basic disease mechanisms are known. Weakness is caused by circulating antibodies that block acetylcholine receptors or the MuSK protein at the post-synaptic neuromuscular junction, inhibiting the stimulative effect of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Myasthenia is treated with immunosuppression and cholinesterase inhibitors.
Signs and symptoms
The hallmark of myasthenia gravis is muscle weakness that increases during periods of activity and improves after periods of rest. Certain muscles such as those that control eye and eyelid movement, facial expression, chewing, talking, and swallowing are often, but not always, involved in the disorder. The muscles that control breathing and neck and limb movements can also be affected.
Although myasthenia gravis may affect any voluntary muscle, muscles that control eye and eyelid movement, facial expression, and swallowing are most frequently affected. The onset of the disorder may be sudden or rapid. Symptoms often are not immediately recognized as myasthenia gravis; a proportion only receives a diagnosis after more than a year.
More on [ Myasthenia gravis ]
General Practice Notebook - Myasthenia gravis - Clinically-oriented information including aetiology and epidemiology. Part of GPnotebook, the online encyclopedia of medicine in the UK.
How to handle myasthenic crisis - Written from a medical perspective, this article from Post Graduate Medicine explains how to asses and manage myasthenic patients in crisis.
Myasthenia Gravis - Information from the University of Chicago department of neurology.
Meta Description: [ Physicians, medical students, and patients can get information about the diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases and disorders., Diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases and disorders. University of Chicago Department of Neurology ]
Myasthenia Gravis - Large collection of resources including treatment, diagnosis, and an active mailing list for patients throughout the world.
Myasthenia Gravis - A short information sheet compiled by NINDS, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Meta Description: [ Myasthenia Gravis information sheet compiled by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). ]
Myasthenia Gravis (MG) | MDA - Information from the Muscular Dystrophy Association with an extensive list of resources and news articles.
Myasthenia Gravis Resources - A comprehensive resources guide and publication about this disorder, compiled by NINDS, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Ocular Myasthenia and Myasthenia Gravis - Details the disease through links as well as ocular myasthenia gravis and other auto immune diseases. Maintains a mailing list for patients around the world.
Meta Description: [ Myasthenis Gravis and Ocular Myasthenia Resources ]
Rogue's Curse - Information detailing myasthenia gravis from a pamphlet published in 1989.
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