brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders
Myasthenia Gravis
Diagnosis of Myasthenia Gravis
Tests using an ice pack or rest Electromyography Blood tests Doctors suspect myasthenia gravis in people with episodes of weakness, especially when the eye or facial muscles are affected or when weakness increases with use of the affected muscles and disappears with rest. Because coolness and rest lessen weakness due to myasthenia, doctors may use the ice pack test or the rest test to check for myasthenia gravis. The ice pack test is done only if the person's eyelids are obviously drooping. Doctors apply an ice pack to the person's eyes for 2 minutes, then remove it. If drooping resolves, doctors suspect myasthenia gravis. The rest test is done if a person has trouble moving the eyeball (typically causing double vision). The person is asked to exercise the eye muscles until they tire. Then doctors ask the person to lie quietly in a dark room for a few minutes with eyes closed. If the eyes then move normally and double vision resolves, doctors suspect myasthenia gravis. Other diagnostic tests are needed to confirm the diagnosis. They include Electromyography (inserting a needle into a muscle to record its electrical activity) Blood tests to detect antibodies to acetylcholine receptors and sometimes the other antibodies present in people with the disorder Blood tests are also done to check for other disorders, including thyroid disorders. After myasthenia gravis is diagnosed, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the chest is done to assess the thymus gland and to determine whether a thymoma is present. Other tests are done to check for autoimmune disorders that are common among people with myasthenia gravis, such as Vitamin B12 Deficiency , Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) are done when weakness is severe enough to affect breathing. These tests help determine whether help with breathing is needed ( 