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Myasthenia gravis

Causes and symptoms of myasthenia gravis


What is myasthenia gravis?

Myasthenia gravis relates to autoimmune diseases of the neuromuscular system, increases the fatigue of muscle fibers. Pathological relaxation of striated muscle occurs most frequently after physical exertion. In severe cases, even after a long conversation, the patient is difficult to clearly pronounce the words, it is difficult to get out of the chair after a simple work. Rest helps to almost completely forget about the symptoms of the disease, especially in the early stages.


Causes of myasthenia gravis

Myasthenia gravis can be congenital or acquired. Congenital myasthenia gravis is a result of genetic mutation. Violations occur in the genes of a number of proteins that participate in contraction of muscle fibers. The cause of myasthenia gravis in young people in most cases is a tumor of the thymus gland. In this case, needed surgery to remove the affected organ. The development of the disease contribute to autoimmune processes in the muscle fibers and tissues of the thymus of patients were found antibodies. A characteristic symptom of myasthenia gravis is drooping the relaxation of the muscles of the eyelids, a disorder of the masticatory muscles, there is a characteristic gait, difficulty swallowing. For nervous tension, patients notice the appearance of chest pain or shortness of breath.

The disease can occur after suffering stress, viral diseases, disorders of the immune system. At the age of 20 to 40 years among patients with myasthenia gravis women three times more than men. In adulthood the ratio of men and women about the same. In Pediatrics myasthenia gravis is rare. Of the total number of cases in children for between one to three percent.


The symptoms of myasthenia gravis

At the beginning of the disease, myasthenia gravis patients report double vision in the eyes, they involuntarily lowered eyelids, they get tired quickly. After a holiday are usually the first symptoms of myasthenia gravis disappear. Over time, the symptoms become more pronounced, muscle weakness increases, and relief does not occur even after long periods of rest and sleep. In the pathological process involved all-new muscle groups. The patient is difficult to chew and swallow food, to move, to speak. The symptoms of myasthenia gravis include changes in voice, diction and movement activity, a breathing disorder. At the time, the prognosis was mostpessimistic. Today, thanks to the progress in the field of medical and pharmacological disciplines, treatment of myasthenia gravis allows you to get rid of the heavy consequences of the disease, to avoid death and to reverse its symptoms.

Diagnosis of myasthenia gravis

Diagnosis of myasthenia gravis can be done in several modern methods. These include electromyography and together. You can assign various studies of muscle tissue and blood composition: a biopsy of muscle fibers, measurement of activity of muscle enzymes, the study of the chemical and histological structure of tissues, electrolyte composition of blood. The specific sample is the sample with the inhibitor cholinesterase and some laboratory methods. In cases of suspected congenital myasthenia conduct genetic analysis.


Treatment of myasthenia gravis

In severe myasthenia gravis illustrates the removal of the thymus gland during surgery. The most effective medicine which is successfully used for relieving symptoms of the disease include neostigmine and Kalinin. Along with them is used medicines that increase immunity, and a number of other medicines that improve the health of the patient. It is important to remember that the sooner treatment is started, the more effective it will be.

In the first stage of the disease as a symptomatic therapy is used anticholinesterase drugs, cytostatics, glucocorticoids and immunoglobulins. If the cause of myasthenia gravis is a tumor, then surgery is performed to remove it. In cases when symptoms of myasthenia gravis are rapidly progressing, shown blood purification, purifying the blood from the antibodies. After the first treatment, the patient noted improvement, for a more lasting effect treatment for a few days.

To new, effective methods of treatment include cryoport – cleansing the blood of harmful substances under the influence of low temperatures. The procedure is performed course (5-7 days). The advantages of croporate before plazmofereza obvious: in the plasma, which is returned to the patient after cleaning, all useful matters are preserved in an unchanged form, which helps to avoid allergic reactions and viral contamination.

To the new, harmless and effective methods of hemocorrection used in the treatment of myasthenia gravis, is a cascade plasma filtration in which the blood purified, having passed through nanofilters is returned to the patient. After the first minutes of the procedure, the patient noted improvement of health, the full course of treatment of myasthenia gravis requires five to seven days.

Tomodern methods of treatment of myasthenia gravis also applies in vitro immune pharmacotherapy. In the framework of the procedure from the patient's blood is isolated lymphocytes, which are treated with medicines and sent back into the bloodstream of the patient. This procedure in the treatment of myasthenia gravis is considered to be the most effective. It allows to reduce the activity of the immune system, reducing the production of lymphocytes and antibodies. This technique gives a stable remission during the year.