Myasthenia Gravis and Vision

Henry J. Kaminski, MD, Professor of Medicine at The George Washington University describes the early symptoms of myasthenia gravis (MG).
MG is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by weakness of the skeletal muscles. Common symptoms include weakness of the muscles that control the eyes, eyelids, facial expressions, chewing, talking, and swallowing. The condition is usually due to the presence of antibodies against acetylcholine receptors in the neuromuscular junction.
As noted by Dr. Kaminski, one of the more common early symptoms is visual impairment. As such, most ophthalmologists are familiar with MG and can suspect and diagnose it quickly. Unfortunately, that referral may take several months as family doctors less familiar with MG may not suspect MG based on the early, and often transient, early symptoms.
Dr. Kaminski leads the Myasthenia Gravis Rare Disease Network (MGNET), a consortium in the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN).
To learn more about MGNET visit reporter.nih.g...
To learn more about RDCRN, visit ncats.nih.gov/...