myasthenia gravis…

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superficial anterior muscles, myasthenia gravis, neuromuscular disorder characterized by variable weakness of voluntary muscles, improves, rest, worsens, an abnormal immune response, in myasthenia gravis, weakness occurs, the nerve impulse to initiate, sustain movement, does not adequately reach the muscle cells, caused, immune cells target, attack the body's own cells, an autoimmune response, immune response produces antibodies that attach to affected areas, preventing muscle cells from receiving chemical messages, neurotransmitters, nerve cell, autoimmune disorders myasthenia gravis, myasthenia gravis associated, tumors, the thymus, an organ, the immune system, patients, myasthenia gavis have a higher risk of having other autoimmune disorders, thyrotoxicosis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, myasthenia gravis affects, 3 of every 10,000 people, affect people at any age, most common in young women, older men, vision changes, double vision, difficulty maintaining steady gaze, eyelid drooping, patients, generalized disease, swallowing difficulty, frequent gagging, choking, weakness, paralysis, exertion later, in the day, muscles that function best after rest, drooping head, difficulty climbing stairs, difficulty lifting objects, use hands to rise from sitting positions, difficulty talking, difficulty chewing, additional symptoms that associated, hoarseness, changing voice, fatigue, facial paralysis, drooling, breathing difficulty, examination normal, muscle weakness that progressively worsens, the muscle is used, in many patients the eye muscles, reflexes, sensation, weakness, affect the arms, legs, breathing, swallowing muscles, muscle group, standard emg results, normal, repetitive stimulation, type of nerve conduction studies, more sensitive, single-fiber emg is more sensitive, acetylcholine receptor antibodies present, in the blood, a tensilon test is positive, cases but must be interpreted, experienced doctor, baseline muscle strength is evaluated, after tensilon, edrophonium, a medication, blocks the action, the enzyme that breaks down the transmitter acetylcholine, muscle function, improve, no known cure, myasthenia gravis, prolonged periods of remission, lifestyle adjustments, enable continuation of many activities, planned, scheduled rest periods, an eye patch recommended, double vision is bothersome, stress, excessive heat exposure, avoided, worsen symptoms, medications, neostigmine, pyridostigmine, improve the communication between the nerve, muscle, prednisone, medications that suppress the immune response, azathioprine, cyclosporine, used, severe, inadequate response to other medications, plasmapheresis, a technique, blood plasma containing antibodies against the body is removed, replaced, fluids, donated antibody-free plasma, intravenous fluids, reduce symptoms temporarily, optimize conditions, surgery, surgical removal, the thymus, thymectomy, permanent remission, less need, medicines, several medications, make symptoms worse, avoided, always important to check, the safety of a medication, taking it, crisis situations, where muscle weakness involves, breathing muscles, attacks seldom last longer than a few weeks, hospitalization, assistance, breathing required, attacks, plasmapheresis, help end the crisis, stress of illness, helped by joining support groups where members share common experiences, myasthenia gravis, support group, no cure, long-term remission is possible, minimal restriction on activity in many cases, patients that only have eye symptoms, ocular myasthenia gravis, progress to have generalized myasthenia over time, pregnancy is possible, woman, myasthenia gravis but, closely supervised, baby temporarily weak, require medications, few weeks after birth but, does not develop the disorder, restrictions on lifestyle, side effects of medications, the specific medication, complications of surgery, myasthenic crisis, breathing difficulty, life threatening, symptoms suggesting myasthenia gravis occur, breathing difficulty, swallowing problems occur.