Myasthenia Gravis

What are the symptoms of myasthenia gravis?

​MG affects voluntary muscles in the body. Weakness may come and go, become more prominent as the affected muscle is used repeatedly, and improves with rest.

Signs may be generalised or localised:

• Generalised MG often affects muscles that control the eyelids, eye movements, facial expression, chewing, swallowing, speech, respiration and limb strength
• Localised MG, such as Ocular MG, often affects eyelid and eye movement muscles

Common signs include:

• Intermittent drooping of eyelids (ptosis)
  
• Double vision (diplopia)
• Limb weakness which worsens with repeated use, commonly at the end of the day
• Difficulty keeping arms raised above the head or getting up from a chair
• Shortness of breath with exertion or when lying flat
• Speech (dysarthria) and/or swallowing (dysphagia) impairment

Not all signs occur at the same time or are always present. The signs usually occur slowly but may develop suddenly with generalised weakness and rapid weakening of swallowing and breathing muscles. This is termed myasthenic crisis and needs immediate medical attention.