James Howard Jr., MD, Distinguished Professor of Neuromuscular Disease and Professor of Neurology and Medicine at UNC School of Medicine, gives a detailed overview of myasthenia gravis.
As Dr. Howard explains, myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by weakness of the skeletal muscles. Common symptoms include weakness of the muscles that control the eyes, eyelids, facial expressions, chewing, talking, and swallowing. The condition is usually due to the presence of antibodies against acetylcholine receptors in the neuromuscular junction.
Dr. Howard further explains that a clinical diagnosis of myasthenia gravis involves a detailed medical history and a thorough physical examination by a neuromuscular expert. It is confirmed by testing the blood for unique antibodies specialized to attack the neuromuscular junction as well as by testing nerve-muscle communication using either repetitive nerve stimulation or single fiber electromyography.
Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved efgartigimod alfa for the treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis in adult patients who are anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody positive. To learn more about this approval, go here.
To learn more about myasthenia gravis, visit our Myasthenia Gravis Learning Center here.
