Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)
Academic Term
Fall 2014
Document Type
Project
Course Number
NURS 5330
Course Name
Advanced Pathophysiology
Professor’s Name
John D. Chovan, James R. Cacchillo
Keywords
Autoimmune Diseases, Diagnosis, Neurological Disorders
Subject Categories
Immune System Diseases | Medical Pathology | Nursing
Abstract
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a rare, chronic autoimmune disease that affects the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and the acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction (Mestecky, 2013). MG causes fluctuating skeletal muscle weakness and fatigue. According to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) (2010), 20 per 100,000 patients are diagnosed with MG, although researchers believe several more patients are misdiagnosed or missed entirely. Several neurological disorders have similar clinical presentations to MG making it difficult for inexperienced practitioners to identify and properly diagnose patients. Patients are often misdiagnosed and delayed proper treatment for one to two years after initial presentation of symptoms (Koch, Steele, & Koch, 2013). Remissions and exacerbations make MG difficult for practitioners to diagnose (Weeks, 2012).
Recommended Citation
Ricker, Erin L., "Myasthenia Gravis: A closer look" (2014). Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN). 18.
https://digitalcommons.otterbein.edu/stu_msn/18