The misdirected antibodies are detectable in the blood of most patients. Electroneurography (ENG) can detect the disturbance in conduction transmission from nerve to muscle.
Symptoms
Myasthenia is a generalized muscle weakness that typically worsens significantly with exertion and improves with rest. Initial symptoms of myasthenia are often heavy, drooping eyelids, problems opening or closing the eyes, double vision, a strangely distorted expression or slurred, washed-out speech, or difficulty swallowing. However, at the beginning the person may simply stumble or falls noticeably often, drop things for no apparent reason (arm or leg weakness), or find the head increasingly heavy. At the beginning, the symptoms are often only very slightly noticeable and are therefore easily overlooked or misinterpreted. As a rule, the symptoms are more pronounced in the evening and when tired, and are much improved in the morning. The symptoms may also be different. Myasthenia is very individual and atypical variants occur relatively often.
Causes
The cause is a misdirected immune response; myasthenia is therefore classified as an autoimmune disease. The misdirected antibodies accumulate on the muscle where the impulse transmission between nerve and muscle occurs and inhibit it. The thymus gland seems to play an important role in the development of these misdirected antibodies. This gland, which is located behind the breastbone and has regressed in healthy adults, is often enlarged in myasthenia patients. Sometimes thymus gland cancer even occurs.
Treatment/progression
The course of the disease is also very individual. Myasthenia can improve, or worsen, symptoms can spread, new symptoms may occur, or others may disappear. Infections or stress can stimulate the immune system, which can worsen myasthenia. Unfortunately, myasthenia can also cause severe crises that can even lead to life-threatening situations. But it is treatable with medication. In the special consultation neuromuscular diseases, patients are advised and supported with their disease.
