Myasthenia gravis belongs to the category of autoimmune diseases that cause muscle weakness caused by disruption of the neuromuscular transmission.
In most cases, the disease affects the muscles of the eyes, as well as facial and chewing muscles, less often - the muscles of the respiratory system. This explains the brightly expressed and characteristic for this disease symptoms.
The main symptoms that allow one to suspect a violation already in the process of visual inspection of the patient may be:
- lower eyelid lowering;
- double vision and visual impairment;
- difficulty experienced by the patient when trying to swallow food, water and even saliva;
- change of voice( nasal);
- difficulties when chewing food, etc.
Severity of symptoms often depends on the degree of neglect of the process. The diagnosis can be made only after a thorough diagnosis.
Contents
- Features of
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- Diagnosis of myasthenia gravis may include a variety of manipulations performedconsistently. For starters, the physician performs a visual inspection, assessing the initial state of the muscles, and interrogates the patient.
As a rule, a neurologist who suspects the disease, assigns the patient a blood test to identify antibodies to the postsynaptic membrane receptors, as well as a proseryl test.
Features of the sample
Proserin test allows you to determine the disease with the highest probability. The action of Proserin is aimed at blocking the work of the enzyme, which cleaves acetylcholine. Due to this, acetylcholine values sharply increase.
Under the action of the substance, one can observe a short-lived but very pronounced effect. Using Proserin, it is possible to detect the development of myasthenia gravis in a patient, but to cure this ailment with the use of drugs based on this medication should not be due to the short-term effects of drugs on the patient's body.
The process of diagnosis will take at least an hour: the doctor determines the initial state of the muscles, and then injects the solution subcutaneously. Next, wait half an hour and examine the patient again. An experienced neurologist will necessarily draw the necessary conclusions based on the noted reaction of the body to the drug. If the diagnostic process is complicated by a blurred picture, it may be necessary to perform electromyography.
Here, also for an initial assessment of the initial state of the muscles, then, an assessment of the state after the introduction of Proserpine. As a result, the neurologist can confidently answer the question: are the observed symptoms really connected with the impairment of nerve impulse transmission, or is the problem with the isolated muscle or nerve.
Do not underestimate the importance of the results of blood tests for specific antibodies. If they are found - to diagnose myasthenia gravis can be very likely. In addition, the doctor can prescribe biochemistry, if there are individual indications.
Often, a CT scan is required to prescribe the actual treatment. Perhaps the development of the disease is associated with a pathological process occurring in the thymus gland.
Diagnosis, in this case, should completely exclude the presence of a bulbar syndrome, meningitis, encephalitis, glioma, hemangioblastoma, ALS, as well as myopathy or even a micro stroke in a patient.
Complex of therapeutic measures
The main goal, pursued in the treatment of myasthenia, is an increase in the indices of acetylcholine in the neuromuscular synapses.
Because to achieve this by stimulating natural synthesis is very difficult, it is more rational to prevent the destruction of a given substance in tissues. The patient is prescribed medications with a mild effect.
Piridostigmine and Oksazil are often used for long-term courses. If the therapy does not bring the desired effect, the specialist can recommend additional use of drugs that prevent the immune system from reacting to the substances entering the body.
For this purpose, appoint glucocorticoids or immunosuppressants. Avoid drugs with the presence of fluoride in the composition, because their effect on the patient can be extremely undesirable.
Treatment of patients aged 70 years or older is predominantly surgical - the thymus gland is completely removed.
However, the methods of treatment of myasthenia gravis largely depend on the degree of progression of the disease.
Beginning. ..
At the initial stage, medical therapy using Kalimin or other preparations based on
potassium shows good results: - Kalimina 60N ( tablets) - three times a day with intervals between doses of 6 hours or more;
- Chloride potassium , prescribed in the amount of 1 g, three times a day;
- Potassium-norma in the volume of one tablet three times a day.
In case of symptomatic progress
The progression of the disease, the presence of bulbar disorders and the ineffectiveness of drug treatment may cause the need for glucocorticoids. Most often this is Prednisolone dosage in 1 mg / 1 kg of the patient's weight.
Injections are performed once a day - in the morning. Frequency of admission: day after day.
Extreme measures
In advanced cases or with ineffectiveness of drug therapy, or if there are other indications, surgical treatment is performed - removal of the thymus gland.
The effect of the operation does not develop immediately, but within 1-1,5 years. Surgical intervention is carried out and at the initial stages, depending on the individual characteristics of the organism and the prognosis.
Drug therapy should be carried out exclusively under the supervision of an experienced neurologist and other specialists, including an endocrinologist. It is necessary to carefully monitor the level of sugar in the patient's blood, which can change under the influence of drugs.Traditional methods of treatment
Along with medical therapy, it is possible to treat myasthenia gravis at home with folk remedies in order to accelerate recovery and alleviate the condition. However, any folk methods of treatment should be coordinated with an observant specialist.
Effective products:
- Oats .The seeds are thoroughly washed, poured into water in a volume of 0.5 liters. Next, the container is placed on the fire, the composition is brought to a boil, and steamed for at least half an hour. Further, to prepare the infusion, wait 2 more hours, removing the oats from the fire. The resulting broth is taken one hour before a meal, at least 4 times a day. Duration of therapy - 3 months with a break for 1 month and another one-time course.
- Onion .The product in a volume of 200 grams( purified) is mixed with 200 grams of sugar and poured into water in a volume of 0.5 liters. Composition is placed on a slow fire and cook for 1.5 hours. Then cool the mass, add two tablespoons of honey and take two teaspoons three times a day.
- The garlic in quantity of three heads is crushed and mixed with four lemons, a liter of honey and linseed oil( 200 gr.).All ingredients should be mixed thoroughly and take one teaspoonful daily three times a day.
Complex exercises for myasthenia gravis
Recovery period
Of particular importance is the patient's nutrition in the process of treatment and remission. It is necessary to include in the diet of figs, dried apricots, raisins, bananas, baked potatoes.
Important and rational exercise, massage, strengthening immunity. However, in no case can you overstrain the muscles.
The recovery phase sometimes takes quite some time. Its duration depends on a number of factors, including both the age of the patient and the timeliness of seeking medical help.
Relapse prevention of
When the main treatment is over, and remission has already been achieved, it is important to take care of the prevention of relapses. The patient will have to adhere to certain rules: to abandon bad habits, to reduce weight if there is obesity, to adjust the diet, enriching it with products containing vitamins and trace elements.
For preventive purposes, traditional medicine is also used.
Prognosis and consequences
Myasthenia gravis is an insidious disease that was recently considered almost incurable and even fatal. Nevertheless, today the situation is not so sad. Thanks to modern medications, the disease can successfully be cured, to achieve a stable remission. The further life of the patient differs little from the life of completely healthy people.
How effective the treatment of myasthenia will be and what the prognosis is depends on many factors:
- forms of the malaise - generalized myasthenia gravis is much more difficult to treat than the eye and is less amenable to drug therapy;
- of the beginning of treatment of - it is always better to see a doctor at the initial stage, without waiting for the progression of the disease;
- type of disease flow;
- gender of the ;
- age category - in old age from the ailment to get rid of complicated, drug therapy and does not apply at all, because of inefficiency;
- conditions and quality of medical care, compliance with the rules, requirements and recommendations of the doctor .
This disease does not require hospitalization( except for surgical treatment).The therapy is performed on an outpatient basis, but nevertheless, the specialist will carry out constant monitoring and closely monitor the dynamics.
Myasthenia gravis is a disease that can not be started. Qualitative treatment and strict adherence to the instructions of a specialist is the key to success.
Almost 90% of patients who started treatment on time successfully cope with the disease and continue to lead a habitual way of life, the quality of which usually does not suffer. If the disease is not treated, the consequences can be sad.
