Prognosis of myasthenia gravis

Myasthenia gravis is a chronic disease that has no cure but it does have periods of remission. The condition affects voluntary muscle control, most specifically on the eyes, legs, arms and potentially respiratory muscles. The onset of the disorder can be very sudden and the symptoms and not often recognized as myasthenia gravis.

In most cases the first symptoms that are recognized are weakness of the eye muscles and or difficulty in swallowing or slurred speech. The onset of the disorder is often sudden and usually the symptoms are not diagnosed initially as myasthenia gravis. Symptoms can vary in type and severity and can include difficulty in swallowing or weakness in the neck muscles.

Because this is a chronic disease that has no cure, patient questions often revolve around prognosis. The definition of the term prognosis means the chance of recovery of the patient who suffers from a specific disease or illness. It is a prediction of the outcome of the process. In many cases a prognosis may be estimated based on previous experiences and research and in other instances prognosis is actually no more than an educated guess by the doctor. But, in the case of myasthenia gravis doctors are often able to give an excellent idea of what the future holds to the patient who has myasthenia gravis.

Thankfully, with treatment and early diagnosis, the outlook for most patients is very bright. They can have significant improvement of muscle weakness and can expect to lead normal or nearly normal lives. Because there are two different types of myasthenia gravis, treatments can be different, which also leads to different prognosis. In the first case myasthenia gravis appears to be a problem with an individual\’s immune system and the disease is immune mediated. In the second case condition is present at a young age and believed to be caused by a genetic defect.

In some cases myasthenia gravis may go into remission temporarily and the weakness will disappear completely so that medications can be discontinued. However these remissions are not usually long-lasting. More rarely the condition can cause a crisis, leading to respiratory failure which requires immediate emergency attention. Individuals who suffer a myasthenia gravis crisis will find that they follow an infection in other parts of the body. Myasthenia gravis rarely causes death unless it is following a crisis situation which is not treated appropriately.

In recent years technological advances have led to more accurate diagnosis and enhance therapy is to improve the management of myasthenia gravis. By learning about the structure and function of the neuromuscular junction and the fundamental aspects of the thymus gland researchers and doctors have been able to formulate more effective treatment protocols.

Today research includes a broad spectrum of studies to evaluate new and current treatments for the disorder. Studies are looking at the efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin and understanding the molecular basis for the transmission in nerve the nervous system. By expanding the current knowledge of the function of receptors and applying this knowledge to the treatment doctors will be better able to improve the quality of the sufferers life.

RESOURCES

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and stroke: Myasthenia Gravis Fact Sheet

Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of Illinois: Prognosis

MyFamilyDoctor: Myasthenia Gravis Prognosis

American Academy of Neurology: Myasthenia Gravis

Journal of Neurological Sciences: Prognosis of Myasthenia Gravis