What is gMG?
Generalised myasthenia gravis (gMG) is a rare autoimmune disorder characterised by loss of muscle function and severe muscle weakness.1
The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is the connection point between nerve cells and the muscles they control.2
80% of people with gMG are AChR+, meaning they produce specific antibodies (anti-AChR) that bind to signal receptors at the NMJ. This binding activates the complement system, causing the immune system to attack the NMJ. This leads to inflammation and a breakdown in communication between the brain and the muscles.2-4
Diagnosed prevalence of gMG in adults
Reference.6
In US
In Europe
In Japan
Most commonly begins for women before the age of 40 and for men after the age of 60.7
Initial symptoms may include:
References.8,9
Slurred speech
Double vision
Droopy eyelids
Lack of balance
which can often lead to more severe symptoms as the disease progresses
Impaired swallowing
Choking
Extreme fatigue
Respiratory failure
References
- Jung-Plath W, et al. Assessment of myasthenia gravis patients' quality of life. The Journal of Neurological and Neurosurgical Nursing. 2023;12(2):74-83.
- Omar A, et al. Physiology, neuromuscular junction. StatPearls. 2023.
- Zhu Y, et al. Clinical features of myasthenia gravis with neurological and systemic autoimmune diseases. Front Immunol. 2023;14(14):1223322.
- Huang YF, et al. Visualization and characterization of complement activation in acetylcholine receptor antibody seropositive myasthenia gravis. Muscle Nerve. 2024.
- Cedzyński M, et al. Editorial: the role of complement in health and disease. Front Immunol. 2019;10:1869.
- AstraZeneca Data on File - Epidemiology estimates are composed of a triangulation of different data sources including Data Monitor, Decision Resources Group, Kantar Health, and internal input (updated as of May 2024).
- Cavanagh N, et al. Exploring the impairments and allied health professional utilization in people with myasthenia gravis: a cross-sectional study. J Clin Neurosci. 2023;114:9-16.
- Catalin J, et al. Clinical presentation of myasthenia gravis. Thymus. 2019.
- Farid ZR, et al. Factors affecting generalization of ocular myasthenia gravis. Sriwijaya Journal of Ophthalmology. 2020;3(2):48-54.
- Rousseff RT, et al. Diagnosis of Myasthenia Gravis. J Clin Med. 2021;10(8):1736.
- Kisabay A, et al. Risk for generalization in ocular onset myasthenia gravis: experience from a neuro-ophthalmology clinic. Acta Neurol Belg. 2022;122(2):337-344.
Veeva ID: GL/UNB-g/0022