Thank you.
Claire x
Myasthenia Gravis is an auto-immune disease which is characterised by fluctuating and sometimes fatal, muscle weakness. It affects all ages and both genders. The charity aims to aid the discovery of improved diagnostic techniques and better treatment - ultimately to find a permanent cure for Myasthenia Gravis and similar disorders of the nerve-muscle junction. One of the aims of the Association's income is to help with the discovery of improved diagnostic techniques, and better treatment - ultimately to find a permanent cure for Myasthenia Gravis and similar disorders of the nerve-muscle junction. Currently the most important research group which they support is at the in the .
What are the symptoms of MG?
The hallmark of MG is weakness of voluntary muscles, which gets worse with repeated or sustained use of the muscle (fatiguable muscle weakness). Symptoms fluctuate and are typically worse at the end of the day, in hot weather, during or immediately after an infection, or during menstruation. MG presents in two main forms:
1) OCULAR MG affects the eye muscles only:
- Drooping of the eyelids (ptosis) is often intermittent, and can affect one or both eyes Double vision (diplopia) may be intermittent, and sometimes occurs only when looking in a particular direction.
2) GENERALISED MG patients usually have symptoms of ocular MG but there is also involvement of:
- Face and throat muscles, affecting smiling, speech (dysarthria), chewing and swallowing (dysphagia) Neck muscles, causing difficulties in holding the head up Limb muscles, causing difficulties in walking upstairs, and in holding the arms up (e.g. when brushing hair) Breathing muscles, causing shortness of breath when exercising or when lying flat.
What research is being done?.
Much has been learned about myasthenia gravis in recent years. Technological advances have led to more timely and accurate diagnosis, and new and enhanced therapies have improved management of the disorder. Much knowledge has been gained about the structure and function of the neuromuscular junction, the fundamental aspects of the thymus gland and of autoimmunity, and the disorder itself. Despite these advances, however, there is still much to learn. The ultimate goal of myasthenia gravis research is to increase scientific understanding of the disorder. Researchers are seeking to learn what causes the autoimmune response in myasthenia gravis, and to better define the relationship between the thymus gland and myasthenia gravis.
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