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Mayo Clinic is one of the world's leading centers for the diagnosis and treatment of myasthenia gravis, caring for more than 350 myasthenia gravis patients each year. Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., is ranked No. 1 in Neurology and Neurosurgery by U.S. News and World Report.
Members of the Mayo Clinic care team have special training and experience in treating myasthenia gravis. With the most experienced electromyography lab in the nation and specialized diagnostic capabilities not available at any other center, Mayo Clinic provides patients with thorough and accurate diagnoses. Following diagnosis, a team of experts are dedicated to finding the best treatment plan for each patient's needs.
Research at Mayo Clinic has uncovered some of the disease's mysteries, and ongoing collaboration between physicians and scientists at Mayo Clinic results in cutting-edge treatment of myasthenia gravis.
In addition to standard diagnostic tests for myasthenia gravis, Mayo Clinic has special diagnostic capabilities not available at any other medical center, including the largest electromyography lab in the nation, an internationally-known immunologic lab, and a specialized muscle research lab. Learn about myasthenia gravis diagnosis.
Mayo Clinic offers all currently available treatments for myasthenia gravis, including a minimally invasive surgery option to remove the thymus gland. Treatment teams include neurologists, thoracic surgeons and research scientists from the electromyography and neuromuscular labs who work together to determine the best treatment plan for each patient. Learn about myasthenia gravis treatment options.
Illustration of the nerve-muscle communications system.
Myasthenia gravis is a chronic disorder characterized by weakness and rapid fatigue of muscles under voluntary control. It most commonly affects muscles of the face, eyes, arms and legs, and the muscles involved in chewing, swallowing and talking. It's caused by a breakdown in the communications system between nerves and muscles. The most common form of myasthenia gravis in children and adults is autoimmune myasthenia gravis. For unknown reasons, it causes the immune system to produce antibodies that block or destroy receptors (in the muscles) of chemical signals sent by the nerves.
Less common forms of the disease are congenital myasthenic syndromes. These are not autoimmune disorders; rather, they are caused by genetic flaws at the neuromuscular junction which affect nerve and muscle communication. The end result is muscle weakness similar to that experienced by those with the autoimmune form of the disease. Congenital myasthenia typically presents with symptoms in childhood, but may not be recognized until adulthood, making it an important diagnostic consideration in adults with negative blood tests for autoimmune myasthenia gravis. See Treatment of Congenital Myasthenic Syndromes.
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Two jobs, four kids and myasthenia gravis — this young mother does a remarkable job of managing a busy life and a serious neuromuscular disease.
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