Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

Achieving minimal disease symptoms six months after thymectomy predicts favorable long-term outcomes in people with myasthenia gravis (MG), a study suggests. The research also found that shortness of breath prior to surgery is associated with worse treatment outcomes. The study, “Prognostic Analysis of Thymoma-Associated Myasthenia Gravis (MG) in…

Treatment with rituximab is safe, provides clinical improvements and enables stopping maintenance therapies in patients with late-onset myasthenia gravis (LOMG), a small study suggests. The study, “Rituximab in Late‐Onset Myasthenia Gravis is Safe and Effective,” was published in the journal Muscle & Nerve. Rituximab —…

New guidelines have been published to help patients and physicians manage myasthenia gravis (MG) and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Broadly, the guidelines suggest that people with MG or LEMS should continue on their current therapies and take extra precautions to minimize the chance…

Out-of-pocket expenses for people in China who have myasthenia gravis  increased from 2013 to 2015, suggesting that current policies for medical insurance in China are inadequate for those living with the disease, a new study has found. The study, “Out-of-pocket expenses for myasthenia gravis patients in China:…

An anti-inflammatory molecule, known as the complement inhibitor zilucoplan, was seen to significantly ease disease severity in generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) patients at its higher dose and to have a favorable safety profile, data from a Phase 2 clinical trial show. These results informed the dose chosen — 0.3 mg/kg…

Myasthenia gravis (MG) can occur in very elderly patients, a recent case report highlights. As such, there is a need for early diagnosis in this population, which can allow for better clinical outcomes. A case report with that finding, “Very late onset of myasthenia gravis: case report…

People with myasthenia gravis (MG) are at higher risk of developing serious infections than those without the condition, a recent study has found. Although more research into the causes is needed, this finding may have implications for prevention strategies such as vaccinations and preventive antibiotic use, the researchers said.

The anticholinergic agent glycopyrrolate — known to decrease stomach acid and saliva production — could be safely used to control “death rattle” breathing in people with myasthenia gravis (MG), a recent case report suggests. The report, titled “Glycopyrrolate and the Management of “Death Rattle” in…

Administration of the probiotic bifidobacteria may ease myasthenia gravis (MG) symptoms by regulating the behavior of immune cells and altering the makeup of gut bacteria, a study in rats suggests. The study, “Therapeutic Effect of Bifidobacterium Administration on Experimental Autoimmune Myasthenia Gravis in Lewis Rats,”…

Variations in the gene DRB1 are associated with different risks of developing late-onset myasthenia gravis (LOMG), a recent meta-analysis suggests. This finding may lead to the identification of promising biomarkers for LOMG risk, the researchers said. The analysis, titled “The associations of HLA-DRB1 gene polymorphisms…