【Learning points】
- Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune neuromuscular disease. Possible symptoms include: weakness in muscles controlling the eyes, face, chewing, swallowing, limbs, or breathing.
- Ocular myasthenia gravis can cause weakness of eye muscles, such as diplopia and eyelid drooping. More than half of patients have initial symptoms of eyelid drooping, paralysis of eye movement or blurred vision.
- Current treatment methods for myasthenia gravis include oral drugs, plasma separation therapy, and injection of immune globulin. Symptoms of myasthenia gravis will occur repeatedly. Medication must be taken on time, and the dose of the drug cannot be increased or decreased arbitrarily.
I. Introduction to Myasthenia Gravis
An autoimmune neuromuscular disease in which the nerves cannot effectively transmit signals to the muscles and affect muscle function, resulting in symptoms of weakness, such as the control of muscles such as the eyes, face, chewing, swallowing, limbs, or breathing. The predilection age for women is 20-40 years old, and the predilection age for men is 50-60 years old. Thymoma occurs in about 10% of cases.
II.Symptoms
Divided into ocular myasthenia and generalized myasthenia, about half of the patients will progress to generalized myasthenia within two years, the weakness symptoms are mild when getting up in the morning, and the weakness symptoms will become more severe at dusk and after activities; Muscles are violated. The activities and expressions of the face will change. You should have a smile, but what you see is a grinning appearance.
III. Treatment
Once the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis is confirmed, drug treatment will be taken to control the symptoms first, and then depending on the clinical symptoms of the patient, surgical thymectomy, plasmapheresis or intravenous immunoglobulin injection will be recommended.
IV.Precaution
V.Conclusion
The symptoms of myasthenia gravis patients often fluctuate. The weakness symptoms are usually more obvious after a period of continuous exercise. The symptoms will be aggravated in the evening or night, and the symptoms will be relieved after a period of rest. The course of the disease also varies from person to person. Some people's condition changes greatly within a few days or a few weeks, but as long as they cooperate with the doctor's prescribed treatment, the condition will remain stable.
VI.References
- Chen, P.J., Hsu, Y.H., Huang, Y.C., Chen, Y.M., Chang, C.C., Chiu, H.C., & Liu, J.W. (2021). Shared decision making in myasthenia gravis. Journal of the Formosan Medical Association,25(1), 118-122. https://doi.org/10.6320/FJM.202101_25(1).0012
- Feng, R.F. (2021). Nervous system care In Liu, X.E(Eds.) Adult medical and surgical nursing (Volume II) (8nd ed., pp. 186-189). Hua Xing .
- Yang, Sh.M., Xiao, M.Y., & Wang, T.G. (2021). Management of dysphagia in myasthenia gravis. Journal of Taipei Medical Association,65(4).58-63.