Myasthenia Gravis
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a chronic, autoimmune condition, characterised by drooping eyelids, muscle weakness and fatigue.1,2 It is a rare disease that affects about 15 in every 100,000 people in the UK.1
In people with MG, the body’s immune system mistakenly targets the connection between the nerves and the muscles, so that voluntary muscles don’t respond well to the signals sent from the brain.2
Drooping eyelids and double vision are often the first signs of MG because the muscles controlling eye and eyelid movements are usually the first to be affected. Regardless of the type of MG, most people experience weakness of the muscles surrounding the eyes at some stage. For those diagnosed with ocular MG, these are the only affected muscles, whereas for those diagnosed with generalised MG, other muscles are also affected.1
Other symptoms depend on the muscle groups involved and may include:1,2,3
- Muscle weakness in arms and legs
- Difficulties holding the head up
- Changes in facial expression
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing
- Impaired speech
- Fatigue
The symptoms of MG are unpredictable and can fluctuate over hours, or even days,4,5 making each individuals’ experience deeply personal. This can cause a profound impact not only on the person’s physical wellbeing, but also emotional, social and economic.5,6
To learn more about myasthenia gravis, head to Muscular Dystrophy UK or myaware.
For healthcare professionals:
If you’re a healthcare professional and want to learn more about UCB in neurology, head to UCBCares for Neurology.
References
1 Muscular Dystrophy UK. Myasthenia Gravis. Available at: https://www.musculardystrophyuk.org/conditions/a-z/myasthenia-gravis/. Last accessed: December 2024
2 MyAware. Myasthenia Gravis. Available at: https://www.myaware.org/myasthenia-gravis. Last accessed: December 2024
3 Deenen JCW, et al. The epidemiology of neuromuscular disorders: A comprehensive overview of the literature. J Neuromuscular Dis 2015;2:73-85.
4 Gilhus, et al. Myasthenia gravis. Nat Rev Dis Primers 5, 30 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-019-0079-y
5 Jackson K, et al. Understanding the Symptom Burden and Impact of Myasthenia Gravis from the Patient's Perspective: A Qualitative Study. Neurol Ther. 2023 Feb;12(1):107-128. doi: 10.1007/s40120-022-00408-x
6 Marbin D, et al. Mental health in myasthenia gravis patients and its impact on caregiver burden. Sci Rep. 2022 Nov 11;12(1):19275. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-22078-3
IE-DA-2400182 | December 2024