Can severe myasthenia gravis with ptosis be cured?

Written by Tang Li Li
Neurology
Updated on July 02, 2025
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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 Clinical Manifestations

Myasthenia gravis is a type of immunological disease of the nervous system that belongs to neurology. The common clinical manifestations include the following aspects. First, some patients may experience ptosis, where they cannot open their eyes. It usually starts on one side and may also involve abnormal eye movements, such as difficulty in moving the eyes to the left or right, leading to double vision and other clinical manifestations. Second, some patients may experience dysphagia, such as difficulty swallowing, choking on water, and speech articulation disorders. Third, some patients may experience weakness in their limbs, especially an inability to perform strenuous physical activities, such as climbing stairs, which can be significantly affected. These clinical manifestations usually show a pattern of being less severe in the morning and more severe in the evening.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Can myasthenia gravis be cured completely?

Myasthenia gravis is a relatively common disease in neurology. Whether it can be completely cured mainly depends on the severity of the disease and some of its subtypes. For instance, patients with ocular myasthenia gravis only exhibit symptoms such as ptosis; by using some corticosteroids or acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, some patients can be cured. However, there are also patients who experience generalized muscle weakness, which is particularly severe and may even affect the respiratory muscles. These patients need long-term or even lifelong medication to prevent the recurrence of severe myasthenia gravis. Additionally, some patients with myasthenia gravis also have thymomas, and many patients can be cured after the removal of the thymoma. Therefore, most cases of myasthenia gravis cannot be completely cured and require long-term medication, though a small portion might be curable.

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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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What is a good medicine to take for myasthenia gravis?

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease of the nervous system. Patients need to take medication for a long time, otherwise, antibodies to acetylcholine receptors might continue to be produced, further worsening the clinical manifestations. The medications taken by patients with myasthenia gravis mainly include the following types, the first being cholinesterase inhibitors. These drugs can inhibit the breakdown of acetylcholine by cholinesterase, thereby improving the transmission function between nerve and muscle junctions, and improving the clinical symptoms of patients. It is best to take these medications before meals for better absorption. The second type of medication mainly includes corticosteroids. They can suppress the body's immune response and reduce the production of antibodies, which is very helpful for the recovery from the disease. Long-term usage and gradual dosage reduction are necessary. Additionally, some immunosuppressants need to be taken. Taking these immunosuppressants also aims to suppress the immune response. However, it is essential to be aware of their adverse effects, such as suppression of bone marrow function, and damage to liver and kidney functions.

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Written by Tang Bo
Neurology
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Does myasthenia gravis require hospitalization?

Myasthenia gravis in its early stages requires hospital treatment. It is an autoimmune disease characterized by a post-synaptic membrane failure at the neuromuscular junction due to decreased acetylcholine. It generally manifests as skeletal muscle weakness, with symptoms often being lighter in the morning and more severe by evening, and includes easy fatigability. In such cases, even without a definitive diagnosis, hospitalization is essential for accurate diagnosis and treatment, which may involve steroids or pyridostigmine. Treatment must be directed by a doctor. Once the condition stabilizes, the patient can be discharged and continue with oral medication. However, if a myasthenic crisis or other critical conditions occur, immediate hospitalization is necessary to maintain vital signs, as these situations can be life-threatening.