Have you heard of Myasthenia Gravis?

Filed in archive Cases , Muscular Disorders , Neurological Disorders on November 22, 2007

I've only heard of it recently because my cousin's 15-year old daughter have been diagnosed with the condition, couple of months ago.




According to the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS), myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by varying degrees of weakness of the skeletal (voluntary) muscles of the body.

(The name myasthenia gravis, which is Latin and Greek in origin, literally means "grave muscle weakness.")

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 may also be affected.

However, with current therapies, most cases of myasthenia gravis are not as "grave" as the name implies - for the majority of individuals with myasthenia gravis, life expectancy is not lessened by the disorder.

My friend who is a nurse knew of a patient's case that is practically living in a hospital, to prevent episodes of respiratory arrest.

What if like my cousin's family, that don't have the financial resources and necessary health insurance?

Then (like them) you'll be sent home with treatment drugs that won't last for long...

Find more details about myasthenia gravis at the NINDS info page.