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Diseases » Myasthenia Gravis » Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Myasthenia Gravis

Diagnostic Test list for Myasthenia Gravis:

The list of medical tests mentioned in various sources as used in the diagnosis of Myasthenia Gravis includes:

Physical examination
Neurological examination
Acetylcholine receptor antibody test
Injection of short-acting neurotransmitter stimulator drug

Myasthenia Gravis Diagnosis: Book Excerpts

Tests and diagnosis discussion for Myasthenia Gravis:

The first steps in diagnosing myasthenia gravis include a review of the individual's medical history and physical and neurological examinations. If the doctor suspects myasthenia gravis, several diagnostic tests are available to confirm the diagnosis, including a special blood test that can detect the presence of immune molecules or acetylcholine receptor antibodies. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Myasthenia Gravis Information Page: NINDS)

Diagnosis of Myasthenia Gravis: medical news summaries:

The following medical news items are relevant to diagnosis and misdiagnosis issues for Myasthenia Gravis:

Diagnostic Tests for Myasthenia Gravis: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about diagnostis of Myasthenia Gravis.

Myasthenia gravis: Diagnosis
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Repeated muscle use over a very short time that fatigues and then improves with rest suggests a diagnosis of myasthenia gravis. Tests for this neurologic condition record the effect of exercise and subsequent rest on muscle weakness. Electromyography, with repeated neural stimulation, may help confirm this diagnosis. Acetylcholine receptor antibodies may be present in the blood.

Confirming diagnosis The classic proof of myasthenia gravis is improved muscle function after an I.V. injection of edrophonium or neostigmine (anticholinesterase drugs).

In patients with myasthenia gravis, muscle function improves within 30 to 60 seconds and lasts up to 30 minutes. Long-standing ocular muscle dysfunction may fail to respond to such testing. This test can differentiate a myasthenic crisis from a cholinergic crisis (caused by acetylcholine overactivity at the neuromuscular junction). The acetylcholine receptor antibody titer may be elevated in generalized myasthenia. Evaluation should rule out thyroid disease and thymoma.

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Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

Myasthenia gravis: Diagnosis
(Handbook of Diseases)

Muscle fatigability that improves with rest strongly suggests a diagnosis of myasthenia gravis. Tests for this neurologic condition record the effect of exercise and subsequent rest on muscle weakness. Electromyography, with repeated neural stimulation, may help confirm this diagnosis.

The classic proof of myasthenia gravis is improved muscle function after an I.V. injection of edrophonium or neostigmine in the Tensilon test. In myasthenic patients, muscle function improves within 30 to 60 seconds and lasts up to 30 minutes. Long-standing ocular muscle dysfunction may fail to respond to such testing. This test can differentiate a myasthenic crisis from a cholinergic crisis (caused by acetylcholine overactivity at the neuromuscular junction). The acetylcholine receptor antibody titer may be elevated in generalized myasthenia. Evaluation should rule out thyroid disease and thymoma. Other autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, and polymyositis, are commonly associated with myasthenia gravis.

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Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003