Transcript Myasthenia Gravis - mrsashleymhelmsclass

Myasthenia Gravis
Anastasiya Lukecha
03.06.13
Psychology 4th
Name
• Myasthenia Gravis
• MG
• Latin & Greek in origin, meaning “grave
muscle weakness”.
Causes
• Antibodies produced by
body that work against
itself
• Defect in the transmission
of nerve impulses to
muscles
• Occurs when normal
communication between
the nerve and muscle is
interrupted at the
neuromuscular junction
(place where nerve cells
connect with the muscles
they control)
Target Population
Affects on Brain
• Electroencephalographic (EEG)
abnormalities
• Disturbances of brain cholinergic systems
Symptoms
• Very greatly among individuals
• Weakness of eye muscles
• Difficulty swallowing &slurred
speech
• Drooping of one or both eyelids
• blurred or double vision
• Change in facial expression
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness of arms, hands,
fingers, legs & neck
Prognosis
• In most cases with treatment people can
improve their muscle weaknesses and live
normal lives
• Sometimes severe weakness may cause
respiratory failure
Treatment
• Physical therapy reduces muscle weakness
• Anticholinesterase agents help improve
neuromuscular transmission and increase
muscle strength
• Immunosuppressive drugs improve muscle
strength by suppressing the production of
abnormal antibodies
• Can be expensive
Notable Case
• Phil Silvers (May 11, 1911 –
November 1, 1985)
• American entertainer and
comedic actor
• Starred in 1950’s sitcom “The
Phil Silvers Show” played the
role of sergeant Bilko
• Died of heart attack
Other Notable Cases
•
•
•
•
•
Brandon Cox
David Niven
Aristotle Onassis
Sir Lawrence Olivier
"Sleepy" of Snow White and the Seven
Dwarfs was
Organization
• Myasthenia Gravis
Foundation of America,
inc. (MGFA)
• “A World without MG”
• The only national
volunteer health agency
in US dedicated to the
fight against MG
• Want to find a cure
• Jane Ellsworth founded
the foundation in 1852
when her teenage
daughter Pat was
diagnosed
Work Cited
• http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/myasthenia_gravi
s/detail_myasthenia_gravis.htm
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/10561522/
• http://m.free-press-release.com/news-newbreakthrough-treatment-1252615911.html
• http://www.thisislewis.net/linked/famous%20people%
20diagnosed%20with%20mg.pdf
• http://www.myasthenia.org/AboutMGFA.aspx