Author Archives: Forest Ray PhD

A single, two-day and low-dose course of rituximab can effectively treat patients with muscle-specific tyrosine kinase myasthenia gravis (MuSK-MG) over at least six months, according to a pilot study. The low dose administered eased disease symptoms and measures of clinical severity, and enabled patients to lower their steroid…

High pyridostigmine doses cause overactive bladder issues in people with myasthenia gravis (MG), according to a recent study. Because of this, doctors should take patients’ bladder-related discomfort into account when deciding treatment regimens, and consider prescribing lower pyridostigmine doses or alternative therapies. The study, “Overactive…

Myasthenia gravis (MG) can mimic the symptoms of a stroke and should not be ruled out even in younger patients, a recent medical case report suggests. The report, “Myasthenia gravis masquerading as acute stroke: a case report,” was published in the PanAfrican Medical Journal. MG…

A lesser known variety of myasthenia gravis (MG), called double-seropositive, appears to be a subtype of MuSK-antibody positive MG, a single-site study in China reports. Recognizing this subtype could help in properly diagnosing patients, allowing for better treatment outcomes, its scientists said. Their study, “AChRAb and…

The two COVID-19 vaccines that recently received emergency approval from the U.S. and other worldwide regulatory agencies are expected to pose little risk to the rare disease community, including to patients with compromised immune systems or those participating in gene therapy studies. That was the message of a recent…

People with myasthenia gravis (MG) felt high anxiety regarding COVID-19, experienced changes in their interactions with healthcare systems, and generally trust information coming from non-presidential federal government sources and local healthcare providers, according to a survey. The results indicate that targeted messaging strategies by trusted sources may help…

UCB Biopharma and doc.ai have launched a digital trial aimed at improving the speed and accuracy of diagnosis and predicting symptom flares in myasthenia gravis (MG) patients by recognizing vocal and facial patterns. The app-based trial, which is currently enrolling, uses participants’ smartphones to record vocal…

Three people living with myasthenia gravis (MG) tell their stories in the three-part online documentary series “A Mystery to Me,” available from MG United, a patient-focused platform operated by Argenx. “The strength and resilience of the MG community humbles us every day, and we…

Melatonin supplements usually used to treat insomnia may aggravate the symptoms of myasthenia gravis (MG), possibly by activating the immune system or by interacting with other medications used to treat the disorder. That is the conclusion of a study describing three cases of MG patients whose…

Argenx is looking for participants in an app-based international study of the impact and burden of myasthenia gravis (MG) on patients and their families. The company has released an app called MyRealWorld MG to gather information about individuals’ diagnosis, complications, treatments, activities, and quality of life, using…