Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSelf-ChecksPhysical ExaminationLabs and TestsDifferential DiagnosisNext in Myasthenia Gravis GuideHow Myasthenia Gravis Is Treated
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Self-Checks
Physical Examination
Labs and Tests
Differential Diagnosis
Next in Myasthenia Gravis Guide
Myasthenia gravis (MG)is anautoimmune diseasethat affects the neuromuscular system, which regulates bodily motion, swallowing, and breathing. In this neuromuscular disorder, the body’s ownimmune systeminterrupts signaling between nerves and muscles, leading to muscular weakness, especially after exertion, as well as respiratory issues and a host of other symptoms.
Since there are many different signs and they may be subtle, diagnosis can be challenging. It may involve everything from function andblood tests, as well as those assessing nerve and pulmonary function.
Because of its often subtle, fluctuating symptoms, MG is notoriously difficult to diagnose. Typically, symptom onset is rapid, and severity can vary, with most people reporting that they feel stronger in the morning and weaker as the day goes on.The first step involves recognizing its signs and making the decision to get medical help.
If you experience any of the above, it’s worth seeking out medical attention to get a fuller picture of what’s happening.
Medical diagnosis of myasthenia gravis requires assessment of how the symptoms are presenting, as well as other important information about current health status. Typically, this entails looking at:
Assessing Risk Factors
During initial evaluations for suspected myasthenia gravis, it will also be worth assessing how much risk you have for developing MG. While its exact causes are unknown, we do know a good deal about who is at most risk.
Verywell / Joules Garcia
In an effort to tease out these risk factors, doctors will ask about:
The only way to conclusively identify a case of myasthenia gravis is to perform clinical testing, imaging, and lab work. As with other autoimmune diseases, doctors look for the presence of specific physiological markers and assess the severity of the disease. Diagnosis of this disease will involve a combination of methods.
Blood Tests
Principally, doctors measure the amount of acetylcholine receptor antibodies in blood, with higher levels often being signs of MG. This antibody hinders the activity of acetylcholine, which motor nerves emit to coordinate muscle contractions. Presence of another antibody, anti-MuSK, can also be a sign; however, some with MG have none of these antibodies, so blood tests may not be conclusive.
Electromyogram (EMG)
EMGmeasures the activity of muscles and nerves and can assess the extent of neuromuscular damage; it’s considered the most sensitive test for myasthenia gravis. Its first stage involves recording nerve activity while mild electricity is applied to the area. In a second test, a tiny needle is inserted into a muscle to record how well nerves are communicating, and overall health of the muscle, as you perform tasks and at rest.
Imaging Techniques
If myasthenia gravis is suspected, techniques likemagnetic resonance imaging (MRI)orcomputed tomography (CT) scansmay be employed to assess the thymus gland. This gland helps the body develop immune function, grows throughout puberty, and then shrinks and disappears in adulthood. In MG, it remains large and can develop thymomas (tumors), which are detected with imaging.
Since weakness and the other symptoms of myasthenia gravis occur in other conditions—and since milder cases may impact only a few muscles—this disease is often missed or not detected initially. It shares features with several other conditions:
A Word From Verywell
While it can be concerning to feel fatigue, muscular weakness, and the other symptoms of myasthenia gravis, it’s important to remember that this disease is relatively rare. Only about 14 to 40 in every 100,000 people are estimated to have it.That said, make sure to talk to your doctor or seek care if you’re concerned.
Though disruptive, myasthenia gravis is also highly manageable, and,with treatment, most with the condition are able to lead healthy, happy lives. Essential in the process of taking this disease on is proper detection and diagnosis. And that starts with being vigilant and staying informed; it starts with you.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cleveland Clinic.Myasthenia gravis: treatment & symptoms.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Myasthenia gravis fact sheet.Cleveland Clinic.Electromyography (EMG): testing, muscle weakness, nerve damage.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Myasthenia gravis.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cleveland Clinic.Myasthenia gravis: treatment & symptoms.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Myasthenia gravis fact sheet.Cleveland Clinic.Electromyography (EMG): testing, muscle weakness, nerve damage.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Myasthenia gravis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cleveland Clinic.Myasthenia gravis: treatment & symptoms.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Myasthenia gravis fact sheet.Cleveland Clinic.Electromyography (EMG): testing, muscle weakness, nerve damage.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Myasthenia gravis.
Cleveland Clinic.Myasthenia gravis: treatment & symptoms.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Myasthenia gravis fact sheet.
Cleveland Clinic.Electromyography (EMG): testing, muscle weakness, nerve damage.
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Myasthenia gravis.
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