LOSING CONTROL

WHAT IS IT?

• Myasthenia Gravis is an autoimmune disease
• Causes muscles to tire and weaken easily
• It only affects the voluntary muscles
• Chronic condition

WHAT CAUSES IT?

• It is caused by a defect in the transmission of nerve impulses to muscles
• Communication between nerves and muscles is interrupted
• Occurs at the neuromuscular joint
• Antibodies block the nerve receptors

THE THYMUS GLAND

• In adults the thymus gland is typically shrinks after puberty
• In MG the thymus stays abnormally large
• It is believed that the thymus gland gives the wrong instructions
• This results in autoimmunity and the production of antibodies

SYMPTOMS

• Muscles that control eye and eyelid movement are usually affected
• Facial muscles and swallowing are also affected
• Any voluntary muscle can be affected

Acetylcholine Receptor Antibody

• protein found in the blood of most people with myasthenia gravis
• affects a chemical that sends signals from nerves to muscles and between nerves in the brain

HOW IS MG DIAGNOSED?

• A person's blood is tested for antibodies
• Edrophonium is injected into a person to see if their eye muscles get stronger
• Nerve conduction test/repetitive stimulation to see if muscle action is weak
• Single fiber electromyography stimulates muscle to see their reaction
• CT scan or a MRI

THE TREATMENT

• Different medications can help patients with MG
• Thymectomy or the surgical removal of the thymus gland
• A plasma exchange can treat MG
• For short term treatment a High-dose intravenous immune globulin can be used

WHO GETS MG?

• Young adult women (under 40)
• Older men (over 60)
• Anybody can get MG but typically it is one of these two groups

KEELE HALBERT