What is Myasthenia Gravis?
Myasthenia gravis, which is reflected in serious muscle weakness, is an autoimmune state that causes voluntary body muscles to gradually weaken. First, the face muscles, such as those who control the movement of the eyelids, talk and chew, are most often affected. These muscles may show involuntary movement or decline, or can make speaking or swallowing. His arrival is most common in women under 40 years of age and men over 60 years. The condition is mainly related to the gland of the thymus, which abnormally eliminates immune cells that may attack the nervous transmission of the body and cut them or distort them.
symptoms progress from muscle weakness in the face to weakness at the ends, which can affect the range of movement. Weakness is often exposed most during activity. The most serious aspects of gravis is its ability to cause myastic crisis. During the crisis, muscles that promote breathing are too weak and those that are subject to crisis require emergency services and/or hospitAlization to provide breathing aid, such as fans.
Methods for diagnosis of Myasthenia gravis are not perfect and some may wait several years before receiving a positive diagnosis. Since these symptoms do not remain unnoticed, the doctor usually begins with a complete history. Physical examination may include a patient proving the ability to grasp objects or move certain muscles. Blood tests can sometimes detect the presence of abnormal immune cells.
Two other tests that can be performed are electromyography with one fiber (EMG) and Edrophonia test. EMG tests individual sources of muscles with Electic pulses to identify any damage to the nerve transmission to the muscles. The Edrophonia test uses intravenous administration of Edrophonium to temporarily block the action of immune cells. During the test, when the symptoms of myasthenia gravis improve, this can be consideredfor a positive test.
Once diagnosed, there are several treatments for myasthenia gravis. In some cases, medicines that block immune responses are administered, namely the autoimmune cells produced in the thymus. These include daily doses of drugs such as Neostigmin. Steroids such as Prednison are sometimes used to improve muscle strength, although these steroids can have extreme side effects.
If possible, surgery called thymectomy removes the brake gland. This is by far the most effective treatment of myasthenia gravis, with 70% of patients have a complete remission of symptoms. Since this possibility does not completely exclude in some diseases, it continues to rehech the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes hopes to find better treatment and eventually the drug. Meanwhile, with contemporary treatment, many can be expected that many with myasthenia gravis will live a healthy and normal life.