A less well-known field in the world of medicine is rare diseases. People who suffer from diseases that only a few suffer from, and therefore awareness and treatment capabilities are not always sufficiently developed, and the response given to those patients is lacking.
Among these diseases is a rare disease for which this month is marked as awareness month worldwide - and that is myasthenia gravis.
We want to understand what myasthenia gravis is.
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Prof. Mark Gutkin, a neurology expert, explains: "This is a disease that results from antibodies that block the proper communication between the muscles and the nerves, which causes general weakness of the muscles and the consequences are broad and affect all the muscles in the body. In many cases, the initial manifestation will be double vision due to damage to the eye muscles, but it can damage the muscles related to swallowing - damage that greatly interferes with the ability to eat properly, muscles related to breathing - damage that may lead to respiratory failure and hospitalization in intensive care, and of course damage to the muscles of the arms and legs.".
From this description, it is clear that the disease has a significant impact on the patients' daily lives. Prof. Gutkin agrees and notes that there are very serious consequences, such as difficulty reading, walking, and limb function. In extreme cases, they can become bedridden and completely paralyzed, due to muscle weakness and, as mentioned, reaching a real life-threatening state.
What are the early symptoms that can indicate the development of the disease? What warning signs should you pay attention to?
Prof. Gutkin: "Anyone who has the disease will feel it, there's no point in looking for early signs, because if he doesn't feel it, then he probably doesn't suffer from the disease, and if he does, he will feel a significant change immediately and without any preliminary stages.".
At this point, Prof. Gutkin wishes to clarify an important point: "Unlike other diseases, such as degenerative diseases, where people become paralyzed and have no way out of it, in this case there are many medications and treatments.".
The professor lists the different types: "There are three types of treatments. The first is one that improves communication between the muscles and nerves during the period of receiving the drug. It gives a boost to the system but does not bring a real solution to the problem. The second type of treatments are those that work to cleanse the blood of antibodies in general, and this is given to reduce the effect of the antibodies. Similar to dialysis, the blood is removed and the antibodies are cleansed from it, and then it is returned clean. Another option in this case is a direct injection to treat the antibodies. The third type is those that work against the immune system in general with the aim of reducing the antibodies.".
Can you share with us a particularly moving story of a myasthenia gravis patient who received treatment and regained his strength?
""There are quite a few stories," the professor smiles and chooses one of them: "There was a patient who came to Hadassah from the Upper Galilee in a very serious condition, in a wheelchair and with paralyzed eyes, when no one had any idea what he was suffering from and the assessment was that it was a degenerative disease that was getting worse and worse and that he would eventually become paralyzed.
""At a team meeting, I raised the possibility that it was myasthenia gravis and we decided to try the drug that provides an initial response. Immediately upon administering the drug, we saw that he was getting stronger and we suggested that he get up, and for the first time in months he stood up and walked, and after entering the treatment routine, he completely recovered from it and returned to his normal health," concludes Prof. Gutkin with satisfaction.
