Myasthenic Crisis

Some patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) have periods where their symptoms get suddenly worse, for example, they may experience severe breathing or swallowing problems. These potentially life-threatening symptoms, known as a myasthenic crisis, which requires urgent treatment in a hospital.

Treatment for myasthenic crisis may include the following:
  • Oxygen through a face mask
  • Using a breathing machine (ventilator)
  • Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, which is a treatment made from donated blood, which improves muscle strength by temporarily changing how your immune system works
  • Plasmapheresis, where your blood is circulated through a machine that filters out the harmful antibodies that are attacking the communication system between the nerves and muscles.