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Myasthenia Gravis is a chronic neuromuscular disease deriving its name from Latin and Greek words meaning "grave muscle weakness." The disease is characterized by abnormal weakness of voluntary muscles ( those muscles controlled by will). This weakness increased with activity and decreases with periods of rest.
Myasthenia Gravis may affect an individual of any age or race including the newborn child. However, the disease is seen more frequently in young adult females and older males. The role of heredity in MG is uncertain.
Myasthenia Gravis may involve either a single muscle or a group of muscles. The muscles which control chewing, swallowing and eye movement are most often affected, followed by the muscles that control the arms and legs. In some patients, the weakness is limited to ocular and eyelid muscles, resulting in double vision and/or drooping eyelids. Other patients experience difficulty in chewing and swallowing, and some even have respiratory weakness. Weakness in the muscles used for breathing may result in shortness of breath, and inability to take deep breath, or difficulty in coughing. These MG patients who experience severe difficulty breathing usually require hospitalization.
Unlike disorders such as multiple sclerosis, MG causes no progressive damage to either the nervous system or to muscles. When the disease is treated and symptoms are in remission, the MG patient can expect normal muscle treatment.
The factors that initiate and maintain the autoimmune response in Myasthenia Gravis are unknown. Although the disease is incurable, MG is treatable with a high degree of success.