When it comes to neuromuscular disorders, they generally affect nerves that manage voluntary muscles. It also affects the nerve which communicates sensory information reversers to the brain. Myasthenia Gravis and Multiple Sclerosis are two of the neuromuscular disorders that have an autoimmune cause.
In these disorders, the immune system of a person can cause these certain tissues to be attacked by the body. In general, it is a situation that shows symptoms involving functions. Apart from similarities, there are several differences between Myasthenia Gravis and Multiple Sclerosis covered up in this article.
Myasthenia Gravis vs Multiple Sclerosis
The main difference between myasthenia gravis and multiple sclerosis is that myasthenia gravis is rapid fatigue of voluntary control muscle. On the other hand, multiple sclerosis is a disease in which protective covering nerves are eaten away by the immune system. Myasthenia gravis can be treated by removal of the thymus gland, medication, and plasma exchange, whereas there is different treatment for specific symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
Myasthenia gravis is a disease of neuromuscular that leads to weakness of skeletal muscles. Skeletal muscles are used by the body for movement. In this, communication between muscles and nerve muscles becomes impaired. It is a crucial impairment that prevents the occurrence of crucial muscle contractions and results in muscle weakness.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic condition that generally involves the central nervous system. Myelin (the protective layer around nerve fibers) is attacked by the immune system. It causes temporarily lesions and inflammation. It can lead to lasting lesions caused by scar tissue.
Comparison Table Between Myasthenia Gravis and Multiple Sclerosis
| Parameters of Comparison | Myasthenia Gravis | Multiple Sclerosis |
|---|---|---|
| Interpretation | It is rapid fatigue of voluntary control muscle. | In this disease, protective covering nerves are eaten away by the immune system. |
| Age of onset | 20-30s (Peaks in women) 50-60s (Peaks in men) | 20-40 years |
| Cause | Thymus | Unknown |
| Manifestations | Charcot’s Triad | Facial expressions |
| Mortality rate | 3-4% | 50% |
What is Myasthenia Gravis?
Myasthenia gravis, or simply MG is a long-term disease of neuromuscular that leads to skeletal muscle weakness in varying degrees. Face, eyes, and swallowing is the most frequently affected muscles. A person affected by myasthenia gravis has developed a thymoma or large thymus.
Myasthenia gravis results in drooping eyelids, trouble walking, double vision, and trouble talking. It is an autoimmune disease that emerges from antibodies that destroy our block AChR or nicotinic acetylcholine receptors at the junction between the muscle and nerve. It can be diagnosis by checking reflexes, muscle weakness, and muscle tone,
Myasthenia gravis prevents nerve impulses from contractions of triggering muscle. Most cases are due to IgG3 and IgG3 antibodies that target AChR in the postsynaptic membrane. Congenital myasthenia is a similar condition that results from the inheritance of neuromuscular junction defect.
The initial symptoms of myasthenia gravis are the painless weakness of particular muscles but not fatigue. It can be diagnosis by checking reflexes, muscle tone, and muscle weakness. The weakness of muscle becomes progressively worse during the time of physical activity. Typically, the fatigue and weakness are worse toward the end of the day.
What is Multiple Sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis is the most common demyelinating disease. In this, the nerve cells insulating covers in the spinal cord and brain are damaged. There is no cure available for multiple sclerosis.
The damage of the spinal cord and brain results in disruption of nervous system parts which transmit signals. Mental, physical, and sometimes psychiatric problems are its symptoms and signs. Some of the specific symptoms included are muscle weakness, double vision, and trouble with coordination or sensation.
When the cause is unclear, the mechanism underlying is thought to be either failure of the myelin-producing cells on destruction by the immune system. The proposed cause for multiple sclerosis includes environmental and genetic factors.
Treatments for multiple sclerosis attempts to prevent new attacks and improve function after an attempt. People’s ability to function can improve by physical therapy. Most people pursue alternative treatments. It is difficult to predict long-term outcomes, but good outcomes can be seen in women.
Main Differences Between Myasthenia Gravis and Multiple Sclerosis
- Treatment options available for myasthenia gravis are thymus gland removal, medication, and plasma exchange. But there is different treatment for specific symptoms of multiple sclerosis such as antibodies and self-injectable medications.
- Myasthenia gravis can be diagnosed by checking reflexes, muscle tone, and muscle weakness. On the flip side, multiple sclerosis can be diagnosed by blood tests, MRI scans, and VEP or visual evoked potentials test.
- When it comes to complications, the most dangerous of myasthenia gravis is the myasthenic crisis in which there is a life-threatening weakness of muscles, while complication of multiple sclerosis is mobility issues which can increase the risk of bone fractures.
- The signs of myasthenia gravis are double vision, hoarse voice, and facial paralysis. On the other hand, muscle weakness, difficulty balancing, and muscle spasticity are signs of multiple sclerosis.
- In terms of risk factors, obesity, physical activity, and insufficient diet are risk factors of myasthenia gravis. But the risk factors of multiple sclerosis are smoking, certain autoimmune disorders, and infections.
Conclusion
It can be concluded that both myasthenia gravis and multiple sclerosis are neuromuscular disorders and have an autoimmune cause. Myasthenia gravis is rapid fatigue of voluntary control muscle. On the flip side, multiple sclerosis is a disease in which protective covering nerves are eaten away by the immune system.
The main cause behind myasthenia gravis is the thymus, whereas for multiple sclerosis the cause is still unknown. The manifestations included in myasthenia gravis is Charcot’s Triad, while facial expression is the chief manifestation of multiple sclerosis. Myasthenia gravis can be treated by removal of the thymus gland, medication, and plasma exchange. On the flip side, there is different treatment for specific symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
References
- https://www.jci.org/articles/view/29894
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=TrdFB8JxtaAC&oi=fnd&pg=PR8&dq=multiple+sclerosis&ots=Q5jALaIgci&sig=463uMIhNDkw84SfLJke7DgUBXeY