Myasthenia gravis Awareness month
June is mark of Myasthenia gravis Awareness month and this year the main focus is “Uniting for a Cure… Together we are Stronger.” The Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America is asking us to help share information about this disease and to help find better treatment and ultimately a cure. Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune neuromuscular disease leading to fluctuating muscle weakness and fatiguability. It is an autoimmune disorder, in which weakness is caused by circulating antibodies that block acetylcholine receptors at the postsynaptic neuromuscular junction, inhibiting the stimulative effect of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Myasthenia is treated medically with cholinesterase inhibitors or immunosuppressants, and, in selected cases, thymectomy. The disease incidence is 3–30 cases per million and rising as a result of increased awareness. MG must be distinguished from congenital myasthenic syndromes that can present similar symptoms but offer no response to immunosuppressive trea...