incidence of myasthenia gravis

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on September 03, 2024
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Myasthenia gravis is a disease of the neurology department. Its incidence rate is around one in one hundred thousand. The prevalence rate is around fifty per one hundred thousand. In China, the incidence rate in the south is slightly higher than in the north. This is an autoimmune disease of the nervous system. Generally, it is due to the production of some abnormal antibodies. These antibodies cause dysfunction in synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction, leading to corresponding clinical manifestations in patients. For example, extreme fatigue after physical activity that can only be alleviated by rest. Patients may also exhibit clinical symptoms such as ptosis, diplopia, and difficulty swallowing, and in severe cases, even respiratory muscle weakness may occur, requiring the use of a ventilator. This disease can occur at any age, affecting children as well as elderly men aged 70 to 80. Therefore, correct understanding of this disease and timely treatment are very important.

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Written by Tang Li Li
Neurology
1min 11sec home-news-image

Can severe myasthenia gravis with ptosis be cured?

Myasthenia gravis, if only presenting with ptosis, has a certain possibility of being cured. This is called ocular myasthenia gravis, characterized by ptosis that covers the pupil. Some patients may also experience eye movement disorders, leading to double vision. This disease is generally caused by autoimmune dysfunction. Patients often have thymomas, thymic hyperplasia, or incomplete thymic involution. Consultation with a thoracic surgeon is necessary, and if required, surgical removal of the thymoma should be considered, followed by a methylprednisolone pulse therapy. If there is no associated thymoma, treatment in neurology with methylprednisolone pulse therapy is also preferred. Generally, after treatment, more than half of the patients can be completely cured without relapse. (The use of medication should be under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Myasthenia gravis should not use what medicine?

Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular junction disease in neurology, primarily due to some synaptic dysfunction, leading to pathological fatigue and general weakness in patients. Patients with myasthenia gravis often experience exacerbation of the disease due to fatigue or infection, and certain medications can severely affect synaptic function, worsening the condition, and are therefore not to be used. The medications to avoid mainly include the following types: The first type is aminoglycoside antibiotics, which can exacerbate the transmission at the neuromuscular junction. Second, quinolone antibiotics should also be avoided as much as possible. Third, some antiarrhythmic drugs can also decrease the excitability of the fascia and are not recommended. Additionally, some drugs like morphine, benzodiazepines, and receptor blockers should also be contraindicated or used with caution.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
1min 7sec home-news-image

What should I do if myasthenia gravis is accompanied by a fever?

Patients with myasthenia gravis are most afraid of developing a fever, as a fever may indicate an infection, especially a bacterial infection. If a bacterial infection occurs, it can easily trigger a myasthenic crisis. The patient may experience weakness in breathing and even respiratory failure, which can be life-threatening. Therefore, it is essential to address the situation promptly. The recommended approach when a fever occurs is as follows: First, quickly determine the cause of the fever, complete routine blood tests, calcitonin, and other relevant assays to confirm if it is caused by a bacterial infection. Second, symptomatically manage the fever, possibly using antipyretic medications. Third, if it is a bacterial infection, it is crucial to promptly administer a significant amount of effective antibiotics to treat it. Controlling the bacterial infection can prevent the progression of myasthenia gravis to a more severe state. (Note: Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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The difference between amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and myasthenia gravis

These two are distinctly different diseases. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) refers to a motor neuron disease, which is a degenerative neurological condition primarily affecting the upper and lower motor neurons. Patients may exhibit symptoms such as muscle atrophy, muscle twitching, general weakness, as well as potential difficulties in swallowing, articulation disorders, and atrophy of the tongue muscles. The mechanism of this disease is not very clear, symptoms progressively worsen, and there are no effective treatment methods. Neurogenic changes can be observed in electromyography. Myasthenia gravis, on the other hand, is a typical neuromuscular junction disease caused by immune dysfunction. It presents with skeletal muscle fatigue and weakness, typically worsening in the evening. Treatment with immunosuppressants has been shown to be effective.

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Written by Liu Yan Hao
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Does myasthenia gravis hurt?

Myasthenia gravis does not cause pain. Initially, patients with myasthenia gravis may feel discomfort such as soreness or swelling in the eyes or limbs, blurred vision, or fatigue. As the condition progresses, skeletal muscles become noticeably fatigued and weak. A significant characteristic is muscle weakness, which worsens after exertion in the afternoon or evening and improves after rest in the morning, known as "morning better, evening worse." Patients with myasthenia gravis can experience involvement of skeletal muscles throughout the body, manifesting as drooping eyelids, blurred vision, double vision, strabismus, restricted eye movements, bland facial expressions, a "forced smile" appearance, speech impairments resembling a thick tongue often accompanied by a nasal sound. Additionally, they may have chewing difficulties, coughing or choking when drinking, swallowing difficulties, trouble raising the head, weak shoulder shrugging, difficulty lifting arms, combing hair, climbing stairs, squatting, and getting into vehicles, primarily due to muscle weakness, which does not lead to pain.