Know More About: The Diagnosis of Myasthenia Gravis
Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system produces antibodies that interfere with normal cell function, instead of attacking invaders like bacteria and viruses. So after you describe your symptoms to your specialist, the next step would be to conduct tests on your muscles, and to take a sample of your blood to see if it has one of two antibodies that are most likely to be found in people with MG:
Acetylcholine receptor antibody (AChR)
OR
Muscle-specific kinase antibody (MuSK)
The blood test is important because once you have been found antibody positive (having the antibody) for either the AChR or MuSK antibody , or if you are antibody negative (not having either of these antibodies) the doctor will know what type of treatment will be most effective for your MG.
The other tests you will take will measure your muscle strength. Not how many pounds you can lift, but how many times you can repeat an action, like lifting your arm or getting up from a chair, or even chewing and swallowing. MG may only affect certain muscle groups, like those required for lifting your arms, or those required for chewing or speaking, so the doctor will be monitoring the muscles that are affected.
Here’s a quick overview of the tests for diagnosing MG:
Special surveys were created specifically for MG patients to help doctors monitor how the muscle weakness can impact a person's life. The MG-ADL Quiz (Activities of Daily Living) is one such survey. It has 8 questions that assess the following:
Ocular effects (affecting vision)
Potentially life-threatening effects (breathing, chewing, swallowing)
Capabilities that enable an active, full life (difficulties in talking, rising from a chair, brushing teeth or hair)
The survey also measures frequency and how long symptoms last. For example:
Constantly
Severely
Intermittently
The survey can be taken over time, and can be a good way to recognize when symptoms are getting worse, and makes it easier to bring it to the attention of your doctor.
