Myasthenia Gravis

1
Myasthenia Gravis

• Blaine Suing
• November 21st 2007

2
HERE WE GO!
3
What is Myasthenia Gravis?

• Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune
  neuromuscular disease
• The name myasthenia gravis, which is Latin and
  Greek in origin, literally means "grave muscle
  weakness."
• Myasthenia gravis is muscle weakness that
  increases with activity and improves after
  periods of rest.

4
Where does the disease take place?

• Myasthenia Gravis takes place a the neuromuscular
  junction.

5
The areas that are most affected.

• Myasthenia Gravis mainly effects the eye lids,
  eyes, and facial movement (such as chewing or
  talking) which are all voluntary muscles.
• It may also affect the muscles that control
  breathing, neck and limb muscles.

6

• WARNING!
• NEXT SLIDE CONTAINS GRAPHIC CONTENT. VIEWERS
  DISCRESSION IS ADVISED!

7
www.nanosweb.org/.../images/mythenia_1.jpg
8
Who does this affect?

• Both men and women can have the disease. Men over
  the age of 60 and women under the age of 40 are
  more likely to have it. But in can come at any
  age.
• Juvenile myasthenia gravis is not un common.
• Neonatal myasthenia gravis is temporary and
  usually only last 2-3 months.

9

• Women are affected more then men at ratio 3/2.
• In the united states for every 100,000 people,
  there are 14 people with myasthenia gravis.

10
Treatment

• The first attempt to treat MG was on June 2nd of
  1935.
• This was an injection of physostigmine.
• It was performed by Dr. Mary B. Walker.

11
Treatment (todays)

• There are different forms of treatment in today's
  world.
• Oral pills
• prednisone, azathioprine, cyclosporine
• IV
• Gammagard, Gammar-P, Sandoglobulin
• Surgery
• Thymectomy

12
Patient Out look

• Most patients with Mg can control it with
  medications or surgery.
• Only in severe cases is were the patient may have
  repertory distress secondary to fever or
  infection.

13
New Studies

• One such study is testing the use intravenous
  immune globlin.
• Experts are studying the use of EN101 antisense

14
Diagnosing

• Weakness in a specific area.
• Decrease strength through out the day.
• Rejuvenated with rest.

15
Conflicting evidence

• Is thymectomy really curing the disorder, or is
  stopping the progression?

16
Credits

• http//www.neurology.org 14 Aug 2007
• http//www.mayoclinic.com/health/myasthenia-gravis
  Jan 19 2007
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and
  Stroke November 19, 2007
• National Institutes of Health November 19, 2007
• www.mgauk.org September 2005