Acupuncture treatment for myasthenia gravis

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on March 04, 2025
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Patients with myasthenia gravis suffer from a systemic autoimmune disease, primarily affecting the neuromuscular junctions, which leads to corresponding clinical manifestations. The essence of the disease is caused by immune dysfunction, where the body produces specific antibodies that affect the transmission of impulses. Patients typically experience general weakness, double vision, drooping eyelids, and in severe cases, weakened respiratory muscles leading to respiratory paralysis. The treatment of myasthenia gravis mainly involves medication, including corticosteroids, immunoglobulins, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, and other immunosuppressants. Additionally, there are some newer drugs that modulate the immune system. Acupuncture treatment, as an important method of traditional Chinese medicine, can also be used in the management of myasthenia gravis, primarily to improve the patients' resistance, enhance physical constitution, and play a significant role in preventing complications and reducing the dosage of other medications. (Specific medications should be administered under the guidance of a physician.)

Other Voices

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Written by Tang Li Li
Neurology
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Myasthenia gravis should be seen in the Neurology department.

Patients with myasthenia gravis should consult the department of neurology, as myasthenia gravis is an immune-related neuromuscular junction disorder. Patients often exhibit pathological fatigue, skeletal muscle involvement, and unaffected smooth muscles. The most common type is ocular myasthenia, followed by mild and moderate generalized forms. Adult patients often have thymomas or thymic hyperplasia. Upon diagnosis of myasthenia gravis, it is essential to perform a comprehensive thymic CT scan. If thymic abnormalities are present, referral to thoracic surgery for treatment is needed. If there is no thymic disease, high-dose steroid pulse therapy may be considered. Additionally, it is crucial to determine whether the patient has other coexisting immune abnormalities, such as hyperthyroidism or connective tissue disease, and tailor the treatment accordingly.

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Written by Xie Wen
Neurology
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Myasthenia Gravis Surgical Treatment

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease, with many patients also having a thymoma. The thymus is a very important immune organ in humans, and abnormal proliferation of the thymus can produce acetylcholine receptor antibodies. These antibodies circulate to the neuromuscular junction and participate in the antigen-antibody reaction, leading to the onset of myasthenia gravis. By removing the thymus, the initiating antigens of the patient's autoimmune response can be eliminated, reducing the involvement of T cells, B cells, and cytokines in the autoimmune response. This surgery is suitable for patients with thymic hyperplasia and high acetylcholine receptor antibody titers, or those with various types of myasthenia gravis with thymoma, as well as young women with generalized myasthenia gravis, and those who are dissatisfied with cholinesterase inhibitor treatment. About 70% of patients can experience symptom relief or complete recovery after surgery.

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Written by Liu Hong Mei
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Can myasthenia gravis use non-invasive ventilators?

Myasthenia gravis can be treated with a non-invasive ventilator, and it is generally manageable with medication. Early stages of myasthenia gravis may present with symptoms such as ptosis, poor breathability, respiratory difficulty, worsening symptoms after activity, and increased severity in the evening. Respiratory weakness might require treatment with a non-invasive ventilator. If respiratory weakness does not improve with medication and leads to respiratory failure, it is advisable to use a non-invasive ventilator to improve the patient's symptoms and alleviate difficulties. Respiratory muscle weakness can be life-threatening and requires active treatment.

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myasthenia gravis-related antibodies

Most cases of myasthenia gravis are mediated by acetylcholine receptor antibodies, involving cell-mediated immunity with complement, generally affecting the neuromuscular junction and causing a neuromuscular transmission disorder. This results in an acquired autoimmune disease of muscle weakness. However, a small number of patients with myasthenia gravis are mediated by muscle-specific kinase antibodies or low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 antibodies. Its main clinical manifestations include skeletal muscle weakness, fatigue, worsening with activity, and significant alleviation or reduction of symptoms after rest and the use of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. Additionally, the disease can occur at any age, with females being more affected than males before the age of 40. Between 40 and 50 years old, the incidence rates between males and females are comparable, but after 50 years of age, the incidence rate in males is higher than in females.

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How is myasthenia gravis diagnosed?

Myasthenia gravis is essentially an immunoreactive disease in neurology, primarily caused by immune dysfunction in the body, leading to the production of autoantibodies. These antibodies attack the acetylcholine receptors on the postsynaptic membrane, resulting in corresponding clinical symptoms such as ptosis, diplopia, and general fatigue. The examination of myasthenia gravis mainly includes the following aspects: first, the completion of the Tensilon test, and if the test is positive, myasthenia gravis should be considered; second, the examination should include repetitive nerve stimulation electromyography, and if there is a significant decrement in wave amplitude, this disease should be considered; third, relevant blood tests should be conducted, mainly to check for acetylcholine receptor antibodies, as positive results for these antibodies are important in supporting this diagnosis.