Medical/Physiological aspects of Myasthenia Gravis
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular autoimmune disease in which nerve impulses traveling to the muscles are disrupted at the neuromuscular junction due to an autoimmune reaction that destroys or blocks Acetylcholine (ACh) receptors necessary for initiating voluntary muscle contractions of the body (NINDS, 2010). Typically, nerve impulses are released from the nerve into the neuromuscular junction where they then bind to a corresponding receptor located on the muscle; when enough receptors are activated a contraction of the muscle is initiated. In the case of MG, antibodies are continuously destroying or blocking these ACh receptors, making it difficult to build the level of activation necessary to enact a desired movement. As a result, MG is characterized by rapid weakening and fatigue of voluntary muscles with use and improvement with rest (Duffy, 2013).…show more content… MG may present in various ways affecting virtually any voluntary muscle, but most often MG affects muscles of the eye, face, neck, and throat. Eye drooping, facial weakness, flaccid dysarthria, and dysphagia are some of the resulting effects (Duffy, 2013). During the early period, symptoms tend to fluctuate in severity and appear intermittently. Over time, symptoms become more persistent and severe. However, progression of the disease is variable depending on the type of treatment chosen or available to the