Myasthenia Gravis

Content provided by National Organization for Rare Disorders

Important

It is possible that the main title of the report Myasthenia Gravis is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

• MG
• Myasthenia Gravis Pseudoparalytica
• Erb-Goldflam syndrome

Disorder Subdivisions

• Generalized myasthenia gravis
• Ocular myasthenia gravis
• Transitory Neonatal Myasthenia Gravis
• Familial Infantile (Congenital) Myasthenia Gravis
• Congenital Myasthenia Gravis

General Discussion

Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular disorder primarily characterized by muscle weakness and muscle fatigue. Although the disorder usually becomes apparent during adulthood, symptom onset may occur at any age. The condition may be restricted to certain muscle groups, particularly those of the eyes (ocular myasthenia gravis), or may become more generalized (generalized myasthenia gravis), involving multiple muscle groups.



Most individuals with myasthenia gravis develop weakness and drooping of the eyelids (ptosis); weakness of eye muscles, resulting in double vision (diplopia); and excessive muscle fatigue following activity. Additional features commonly include weakness of facial muscles; impaired articulation of speech (dysarthria); difficulties chewing and swallowing (dysphagia); and weakness of the upper arms and legs (proximal limb weakness). In addition, in about 10 percent of cases, affected individuals may develop potentially life-threatening complications due to severe involvement of muscles used during breathing (myasthenic crisis).



Myasthenia gravis results from an abnormal immune reaction in which the body's natural immune defenses (i.e., antibodies) inappropriately attack and gradually destroy certain receptors in muscles that receive nerve impulses (antibody-mediated autoimmune response).

Resources

Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America

1821 University Ave. W.

Suite 5256

St. Paul, MN 55104

Tel: (651)917-6256

Fax: (651)917-1835

Tel: (800)541-5454

Email: mgfa@myasthenia.org

Internet: http://www.myasthenia.org



American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Inc.

22100 Gratiot Avenue

Eastpointe, MI 48021-2227

Tel: (586)776-3900

Fax: (586)776-3903

Tel: (800)598-4668

Email: aarda@aarda.org

Internet: http://www.aarda.org/



Muscular Dystrophy Association

3300 E. Sunrise Dr

Tucson, AZ 85718

USA

Tel: 5205292000

Fax: 5205295300

Tel: 8003444863

Email: mda@mdausa.org

Internet: http://www.mdausa.org



National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

31 Center Drive

8A07

Bethesda, MD 20892-2540

Tel: (301)496-5751

Fax: (301)402-2186

Tel: (800)352-9424

Email: braininfo@ninds.nih.gov

Internet: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/



Myasthenia Gravis Links

Web Site on the Internet



Email: stanley.way@prodigy.net

Internet: http://pages.prodigy.net/stanley.way/myasthenia/



MUMS (Mothers United for Moral Support, Inc) National Parent-to-Parent Network

150 Custer Court

Green Bay, WI 54301-1243

USA

Tel: 9203365333

Fax: 9203390995

Tel: 8773365333

Email: mums@netnet.net

Internet: http://www.netnet.net/mums/



New Horizons Un-Limited, Inc.

811 East Wisconsin Ave

Suite 937

Milwaukee, WI 53202

USA

Tel: 4142990124

Fax: 4143471977

Email: horizons@new-horizons.org

Internet: http://www.new-horizons.org



Autoimmune Information Network, Inc

PO Box 4121

Brick, NJ 08723

Tel: (732)262-0450

Fax: (732)262-0450

Email: autoimmunehelp@aol.com

Internet: http://www.aininc.org



European Society for Immunodeficiencies (ESID)

c/o Dr. Esther de Vries

Jeroen Bosch Hospital

Dept. Paediatrics

P.O. Box 90153

Hertogenbosch, 5200 ME's

Netherlands

Tel: +31 73-6992965

Fax: +31 73-6992948

Email: info@esid.org

Internet: http://www.esid.org



AutoImmunity Community



Tel: (919)-55-2-9057

Email: bandrews@autoimmunitycommunity.org

Internet: http://autoimmunitycommunity.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated:  11/14/2008

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Last updated:	November 14, 2008