Myasthenia gravis should see which department?

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on May 31, 2025
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Myasthenia gravis is a common disease in neurology, so when visiting the hospital, it is definitely necessary to see a neurologist. Neurologists have certain experience in diagnosing and treating this disease. This disease is classified as a neuromuscular junction disorder, mainly caused by the production of antibodies against acetylcholine receptors in the body. This leads to the nerve impulses not being effectively transmitted to the muscles, resulting in clinical manifestations. Patients' symptoms include improvement in the morning and worsening in the evening, fluctuating symptoms, and may present with drooping eyelids, double vision, general weakness, and some patients may also experience difficulty swallowing and speech disorders.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Myasthenia Gravis should be seen by which department?

Myasthenia gravis is considered a neurological disease, so if myasthenia gravis is suspected, it is advisable to consult a neurologist. Neurologists are quite familiar with myasthenia gravis, especially those who specialize in its research. They are particularly knowledgeable about diagnosing and treating this disease. Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease of the nervous system that primarily affects the neuromuscular junction, causing muscle weakness in the body. The symptoms typically worsen towards the evening and include pathological fatigue. Muscle weakness usually improves after rest. Clinical manifestations also include ptosis, double vision, difficulty swallowing, and coughing while drinking. Neurologists may prescribe various diagnostic tests such as electromyography, chest CT scans, and tests for acetylcholine receptor antibodies.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What is myasthenia gravis?

Myasthenia gravis is a group of neuromuscular junction disorders and is also an autoimmune disease of the nervous system. It primarily involves the production of certain antibodies in the body that attack the acetylcholine receptors on the postsynaptic membrane of the neuromuscular junction. This results in the inability of nerve impulses to be effectively transmitted to the muscles, causing the muscles to lose neural control, leading to weakness of the limbs. This weakness is typically more pronounced in the evening than in the morning, with symptoms being lighter upon waking and worsening in the afternoon. As the disease is caused by an autoimmune response, a major focus of treatment is to suppress this abnormal immune reaction, primarily through the administration of corticosteroids. Additionally, many patients with myasthenia gravis also exhibit thymus abnormalities, necessitating thorough CT examinations of the thymus.

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Written by Shi De Quan
Neurology
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Can myasthenia gravis affecting respiration be cured?

Myasthenia gravis affecting respiration can be cured because myasthenia gravis can improve after treatments such as oral medication or plasmapheresis. Another possibility is myasthenia gravis concurrent with a myasthenic crisis, which has various forms, causing respiratory difficulties. At this point, symptomatic treatment is required, including the use of ventilators, intubation, and in severe cases, a tracheotomy. After the critical period on the ventilator passes, respiratory function can improve or the myasthenia can ameliorate.

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Written by Tang Bo
Neurology
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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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Written by Liu Yan Hao
Neurology
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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.