Myasthenia Gravis Infusion Therapy
With local infusion centers across the country, Myasthenia Gravis patients requiring ongoing biologic infusions or injections relax in privacy and comfort during treatment.
Our Facility is specifically designed for Myasthenia Gravis patients.
Private Treatment Rooms
Relax in privacy as you receive your infusion therapy treatmet. Relax in solitude or bring along loved ones for support.
Flexible Scheduling
Adequate treatment rooms offer plenty of opportunities for you to receive infusion therapy treatment on your schedule.
No Waiting Rooms
Your room is prepped and ready for you when you arrive, avoiding the need for long wait times for treatment.
Comfort is Key
Private waiting rooms with television and comfy seating enable you to relax and receive treatment is a peaceful environment.
About Myasthenia Gravis
Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease that is characterized by varying degrees of weakness in the skeletal muscles, which are responsible for movement. Named from Greek and Latin words meaning “grave muscular weakness,” this condition is as complex as it is rare, affecting about 14 to 20 out of every 100,000 people in the United States.
Symptoms of Myasthenia Gravis
Myasthenia Gravis primarily manifests through muscle weakness that worsens after periods of activity and improves after periods of rest. The severity and range of muscle weakness differ significantly from person to person. Here are some of the most common symptoms:
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Ocular Symptoms: Around 85% of patients first experience ocular symptoms, typically in the form of ptosis (drooping of one or both eyelids) and diplopia (double vision). In some cases, MG may remain restricted to the ocular muscles – a subtype of the disease known as ocular myasthenia gravis.
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Facial and Throat Symptoms: Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), dysarthria (speech problems), and changes in facial expressions due to muscle weakness are common in MG. Difficulty swallowing can lead to choking, gagging, or a change in voice tone after prolonged talking.
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Limb Weakness: Proximal muscles, those closest to the body’s core, are usually affected more than distal muscles, those further from the core. This can result in difficulty performing tasks that require arm strength, such as lifting, or leg strength, like climbing stairs or walking.
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Breathing Difficulties: In severe cases, MG may affect the respiratory muscles, leading to a medical emergency known as a myasthenic crisis. This situation requires immediate medical attention.
Understanding Myasthenia Gravis
Myasthenia Gravis is the result of a breakdown in the communication between nerves and muscles. Under normal circumstances, nerves communicate with muscles by releasing a chemical called acetylcholine. In MG, the immune system produces antibodies that mistakenly attack these acetylcholine receptors, preventing muscle contraction and leading to weakness.
This condition can occur at any age, but it’s more common in women under 40 and men over 60. It’s not directly inherited nor is it contagious. Although MG can affect any voluntary muscle, muscles that control eye and eyelid movement, facial expression, and swallowing are most frequently affected.
Infusion Therapy as a Treatment for Myasthenia Gravis
There’s currently no cure for MG, but the condition can be managed effectively with the right treatments. One such treatment is infusion therapy, which can significantly improve quality of life for many patients.
Infusion therapy, for MG patients, typically involves the administration of immunoglobulin (IVIg) or plasmapheresis. The choice between the two depends on various factors such as the patient’s overall health, the severity of symptoms, and response to other treatments.