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Myasthenia Gravis Research Paper

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Myasthenia Gravis is a weakness and rapid fatigue of muscles under voluntary control. This disease is caused by an interruption in communication between nerves and muscles at the neuromuscular junction; this is the place where nerve cells connect with the muscles they control. The muscle weakness increases through periods of activity and then improves during rest. For example, muscles that control eye and eyelid movement, facial expression, chewing, talking, and swallowing, these are the most often muscles affected. Other muscles that can be affected are muscles that control breathing and neck and limb movement can be affected. Symptoms include, difficulty swallowing, double vision, unsteady walk, weakness in arm and leg muscles, and difficulties …show more content…

The main treatments are medications, therapy, and surgery. Some medications used to treat Myasthenia Gravis are anticholinesterase agents such as neostigmine and pyridostigmine. These medications help improve neuromuscular transmission and to increase muscle strength. Victims may also take Immunosuppressive drugs, such as prednisone, azathioprine, cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, and tacrolimus. These medications also help improve muscle strength. The medications work by suppressing the production of abnormal antibodies. When taking these medications you must be carefully monitored by a physician. An important therapy used to treat the disease would be plasmapheresis, this procedure is when a specialist removes blood that is infected with abnormal antibodies. Therapies may be used especially during difficult periods of weakness. Lastly surgery is an option, one of the surgery procedures is thymectomy, this is the surgical removal of the thymus gland. This is often abnormal in some cases. With the surgery it reduces symptoms in some cases without thymoma and may cure people by rebalancing the immune system. Typically thymectomy is recommended for individuals with thymoma. Thymoma is an uncommon tumor in the thymus. A Neurologist will determine which treatment option is best for a patient, it all depends on the severity of the weakness, which muscles are affected, the age of the patient, and any other associated medical

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