Latest news with #myastheniaGravis
WebMD
13 hours ago
- Health
- WebMD
Gut Health and MG Management
When I was first diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG), I focused on the obvious: My immune system. I assumed that if I could manage that, everything else would fall into place. Gut health was sort of on my radar. I ate healthy, avoided processed foods, and believed what you put in your body affects how you feel. I even added fermented foods here and there, mostly because they were trending and sounded like a good idea. But I hadn't looked much further. I didn't understand just how central your gut is when it comes to managing autoimmune conditions like MG. Around 70% of your immune system lives in your gut. I came across that fact before, but it never hit home until I had food reactions and strange flares that didn't fit the usual MG pattern. I thought my gut was fine. No IBS diagnosis, no ongoing digestive drama. Just bloating I chalked up to eating too quickly or being stressed. But I started reacting to foods that'd never been a problem. My energy plummeted. Symptoms I'd learned to manage started slipping out of control, and I couldn't pinpoint why. Something wasn't right. I decided to get a comprehensive gut test through Genova. At the time, I was pescatarian and still relatively unaware of how deep the gut-autoimmune connection is. My results were eye-opening. Dysbiosis. Low microbial diversity. Overgrowth of opportunistic bacteria. Low secretory IgA. Impaired short-chain fatty acid production. Sluggish digestion. It was clear my gut was underperforming, and had been for a while. Suddenly, everything clicked. If your gut is inflamed or overrun with the wrong bacteria, your immune system will be on high alert. That background inflammation adds fuel to the fire of an autoimmune condition like MG. Once I understood what was going on, I took action. First through food. I was already eating a whole food diet, but I fine-tuned it. I eliminated gluten, dairy, seed oils, and refined sugar. I focused on nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory meals. I reintroduced grass-fed beef, offal, and other quality animal proteins. I kept my meals simple, intentional, and supportive. That alone made a difference. Next, I addressed my microbial imbalance. I used oregano oil capsules and other natural antimicrobials, along with binders like G.I. Detox to help clear out toxins. I introduced supplements like calcium-D-glucarate, liposomal glutathione, and milk thistle tea to support detox pathways. I added digestive enzymes, spore-based probiotics, and made a real effort to eat slowly, chew properly, and stay calm while eating. I hadn't realized how much stress was affecting my digestion until I worked on reducing it. Improvements were gradual but undeniable. My bloating reduced. Food reactions became less dramatic. MG flares became less frequent and more manageable. I felt clearer mentally, and more stable emotionally. My energy improved and I began to feel like myself again. It wasn't a magic fix, but it was a fundamental shift. Gut health was no longer just a vague wellness term – it became a key part of taking care of myself every day. Looking back, I wish I'd understood the gut-autoimmune connection earlier. MG is complex, and no single approach works for everyone. But, for me, gut health is a cornerstone. If you live with MG and haven't explored what's happening in your gut, I encourage you to look into it. Not just guessing, but testing. It gave me clarity, direction, and a plan that actually helped. So much of what affects us happens behind the scenes. But once you uncover those hidden pieces, it's amazing how much more sense your symptoms can make. And how much more empowered you feel to do something about them.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
RemeGen: Telitacicept for the Treatment of Generalized Myasthenia Gravis Approved in China
YANTAI, China, May 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 27, RemeGen Co., Ltd.( / announced that Telitacicept has officially been approved for marketing in China by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for the treatment of adult patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody-positive generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) in combination with conventional therapies. As the world's first innovative biologic drug targeting both BLyS and APRIL for the treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG), Telitacicept's approval not only brings new treatment options to patients, but also fills the gap of domestic innovative drugs in the field of MG treatment in China. It is expected to reshape the treatment landscape in this field. Previously, the indication of Telitacicept for MG was included in the breakthrough therapy category and priority review by the NMPA of China, and was granted orphan drug qualification and fast track designation by the FDA. Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease caused by neuromuscular junction transmission disorders. It is characterized by fluctuating muscle weakness and fatigue in symptoms, long treatment cycles and high recurrence rate. Approximately 80%-85% of patients with MG patients are AChR antibody positive, and more than 85% of patients develop to gMG within 24 months of onset. According to Frost & Sullivan report, there are about 1.2 million MG patients worldwide, including approximately 220,000 patients in China. At present, there is a great unmet medical need. Telitacicept is constructed with the extracellular domain of the human transmembrane activator and calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI) receptor and the fragment crystallizable (Fc) domain of human immunoglobulin G(IgG). It simultaneously targets B-cell lymphocyte stimulator (also known as BLyS) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), and directly attack the source of pathenogenic antibody production – B cells and plasma cells. According to the phase III data presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) on April 9, 2025, Telitacicept demonstrated a clinically meaningful efficacy and safety profile in patients with gMG. According to the data, after 24 weeks of treatment, 98.1% of patients in the Telitacicept group demonstrated a ≥ 3-point improvement in Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living ("MG-ADL") score, far exceeding that of the placebo group which was 12.0%. The MG-ADL score decreased by 5.74 points from baseline in the Telitacicept group, compared to a decrease of 0.91 point in the placebo group. 87.0% of the patients in the Telitacicept group demonstrated a ≥ 5-point improvement in Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis ("QMG") score, far exceeding that of the placebo group which was 16.0%. The QMG score decreased by 8.66 points from baseline in the Telitacicept, compared to a decrease of 2.27 points in the placebo group, thereby proving significant treatment benefit. In terms of safety, the overall adverse event (AE) rate in the Telitacicept group was comparable to that in the placebo group, indicating a good overall safety profile. Among the drugs for gMG that have completed phase III clinical studies, Telitacicept had the highest MG-ADL response rate. The approval of Telitacicept in China will benefit more patients with MG in the country, thereby allowing more ambitious treatment goals to be achieved in terms of long-term disease management. Currently, the Company is advancing the global multi-center phase III trial of Telitacicept in patients with MG, aiming to validate the efficacy and safety of Telitacicept in a wider patient population. The principal researcher, Professor Yin Jian from Beijing Hospital, said: "We sincerely congratulate the approval of the therapeutic indication of Telitacicept for MG! Telitacicept demonstrated rapid and significant clinical improvements in the Phase III trial with good tolerability. This is a major breakthrough and key progress for Chinese innovative drugs in the field of neuro-immune diseases. It provides a high profile basis for evidence-based clinical application of Telitacicept in the treatment of MG, and has also opened up a new paradigm of precise treatment in this field. We believe that with the inclusion of this indication in the medical insurance, Telitacicept will bring new and more effective treatment options to more patients." Dr. Fang Jianmin, the CEO of RemeGen, said: "The approval of the MG indication for Telitacicept in China is of great significance. It provides clinicians with a new and more powerful 'weapon' to treat patients more effectively and precisely. We look forward to the inclusion of this indication in the medical insurance system to help patients and their families reduce the burden of treatment and further improve their quality of life. RemeGen is advancing the global Phase III clinical study of Telitacicept for MG. We are looking forward to working closely with global experts and scholars to contribute to the continuous advancement of treating autoimmune diseases." Aside from Myasthenia Gravis, Telitacicept has been approved in China for the treatment of two other major indications, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). 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BBC News
16-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Mother and baby reunited on life support at Worcester hospital
A mother and her newborn daughter who were both critically ill and on life support shared an emotional first cuddle after medics worked to bring them who has a rare neurological condition called myasthenia gravis, gave birth to Maeve in May and shortly afterwards both needed ventilation which left them in separate intensive care units at Worcestershire Royal was taken away due to breathing difficulties but her condition worsened and she had to be intubated and put on a husband, Justin, said staff "turned a scary time into something filled with compassion and strength, we'll always be grateful." Helen's health also deteriorated shortly after giving birth, requiring her own emergency admission to intensive care, where she was also placed on a the importance of early bonding, staff from both departments co-ordinated a carefully planned moment, transporting the baby in her ventilator beside her mother, allowing them to share skin-to-skin the days that followed, as both remained on ventilators, hospital staff used iPads for video calls and placed photos of Maeve around Helen's bed. Later, when stable enough, Helen was wheeled to the neonatal unit for a further paediatrician Dr Paul Watson said: "None of us had ever encountered a situation quite like this. "The team worked tirelessly to make this happen. Maeve is now off respiratory support and expected to make a full recovery."Helen has since been discharged from intensive care with a positive remains in hospital for monitoring, with Helen now by her side. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Free Malaysia Today
13-05-2025
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Living with myasthenia gravis, a rare but manageable condition
53-year-old Alina Ali began suffering from symptoms of myasthenia gravis in 2010, but was only diagnosed with the rare condition in 2016. (Bernama pic) KUALA LUMPUR : It began suddenly in 2010, when secondary-school teacher Alina Ali inexplicably began feeling fatigued, her voice growing hoarse. Chalking it up to work-related stress, she visited her doctor but found nothing abnormal. Some of her colleagues asked why she 'seemed lazier lately'. Others attributed her condition to 'black magic' or 'disturbance by a spiritual entity', leaving Alina feeling unsettled. She consulted specialists from various fields, from eye doctors to psychiatrists, and even sought the help of traditional healers – but none of them could give her a clear answer. By the end of 2015, her symptoms had worsened, with severe body weakness. Still, she figured her exhaustion was from caring for her children after her husband passed away suddenly from a heart attack that August. Sometime the following year, she began to experience a drooping of both upper eyelids. Alina was referred to a neurologist at Hospital Serdang in Selangor and, after undergoing several tests, was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG), a rare autoimmune disease. 'I didn't know what to feel – relieved because I finally knew the cause, or afraid because I had never even heard of the disease before,' the now 53-year-old told Bernama. She was prescribed the medication pyridostigmine and steroid prednisolone. Despite numerous side effects – including diarrhoea, watery eyes, increased saliva production, weight gain, spikes in blood sugar, narrow blood vessels that rupture easily, and proneness to skin, blood and lung infections – she was determined to stick with her treatment. Alina, who retired from teaching in 2021, is now active in the MG community, sharing her experiences and offering support to others. While MG patients do not fully recover, the condition is manageable, and Alina is committed to raising public awareness about the disease. According to consultant neurologist Dr Rabani Remli, MG is a chronic autoimmune disease caused by disruptions in the transmission of nerve impulses to the muscles. As a result, the muscles become weak when a person performs repeated physical movements. The disease is neither contagious nor inherited. It is often misunderstood as a psychological issue or mistaken for other conditions such as stroke or eye-muscle disorders. Symptoms of MG include body weakness, especially in the arms and thighs, making it hard for patients to climb stairs or carry out daily activities. (Envato Elements pic) Rabani explained that MG is difficult to diagnose as its symptoms can be confusing and can vary. Patients often present with drooping eyelids or double vision, difficulty speaking clearly, and trouble swallowing. Some may experience muscle weakness in the arms and thighs, making it hard for them to climb stairs or carry out daily activities. Although there is no official data on the prevalence of MG in Malaysia, previous studies have shown that MG among Malaysians displays clinical characteristics similar to those in other countries. Women are more frequently diagnosed at a younger age, usually between 20 and 30, while men are usually diagnosed later, in their 60s. There are two classifications of MG: ocular, which only involves the eye muscles, or generalised, which involves muscle weakness in other parts of the body. 'Identifying the MG category is important for determining the treatment approach,' Rabani said. 'Detecting MG requires a careful approach due to its unclear and inconsistent early symptoms. Taking a detailed patient history is key to record a pattern known as 'fatiguability' – a hallmark of MG: symptoms that worsen with physical activity or repeated muscle use, but improve after rest.' Neurological examinations are necessary, including asking the patient to raise their eyelids and move their arms and legs. Blood tests are conducted to detect antibodies, while further evaluation may include nerve-conduction tests or a chest CT scan to detect any tumour or enlargement of the thymus gland – located behind the breastbone between the lungs – which is often associated with MG. 'If there is swelling in the thymus, we will refer the patient for thymus-gland surgery. Thymus-gland tumours are a major cause of this disease,' Rabani noted. Although MG cannot be completely cured, it can be controlled with proper treatment. Medications such as pyridostigmine work by enhancing the transmission of nerve signals to muscles, temporarily reducing muscle weakness. Effects may vary from person to person. For more serious cases, patients are prescribed immunosuppressive treatments such as steroids, azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil, which can help reduce antibody production. These treatments, however, require close monitoring as each can have short- and long-term side effects. Neurologist Dr Rabani Remli says one of the main challenges in managing MG in Malaysia is the low level of awareness, not only among the public but also among general medical practitioners. (Rabani Remli pic) In more complicated cases or during an 'MG crisis', emergency treatments such as intravenous immunoglobulin or plasma exchange are used to neutralise and eliminate antibodies more quickly. These treatments have also been found to be very effective during critical phases or before surgery. 'If a patient is found to have a tumour in the thymus gland, they will be advised to undergo a thymectomy, which is the surgical removal of the thymus. Patients who undergo this surgery, especially younger ones, usually show better symptom control in the long term.' Alongside medical treatment, patients need to better control their stress and get sufficient rest. Avoiding certain medications that can trigger MG is also crucial. Furthermore, psychological effects pose a major challenge for MG patients, Rabani said: some of her patients suffer from depression because they are misunderstood by others who brand them as lazy, spoiled, or having psychological issues. 'The loss of control over body functions and the difficulty in planning daily activities are major causes of depression as patients don't know when their body will fail to function. This makes it hard for them to work or live a normal social life,' Rabani explained. The main challenge in managing MG in Malaysia is the low level of awareness, not only among the public but also among general medical practitioners. As such, Rabani hopes support groups like the Malaysian Rare Disorders Society and other NGOs will continue to shed light on MG, while assisting patients and their families.
