csic.org.uk

Constantine Treatment of MG
Founded & Formulated treatment by Mr. Chris Constantine


Research Co-Ordinator,
Dr. Rehan Abbas Esar. Neurologist

Research Director Professor Tarique



Myasthenia Gravis comes from the Greek & Latin words meaning grave muscle weakness. It is an autoimmune, chronic neuromuscular disease that manifests itself by varying weakness of the voluntary muscles of the body. It is one of the best-understood autoimmune diseases. Myasthenia has been known to occur since the 19th century.

Myasthenia occurs in all races, sexes and at any age. It is more common in the young females and older men. It can be congenital (at birth) or acquired. MG is not contagious It can affect any voluntary muscle of the body and the muscle weakness is not always symmetrical i.e. one limb may be affected more than the other or one eyelid would be more drooping than the other etcetera. Certain muscles are more involved than the others like the ones, which control eye movements, chewing, swallowing, coughing, limbs and breathing muscles. The mildest form of the disease is one in which ocular (eye) muscles are involved and in its severest form the breathing muscles are affected and patient needs to be hospitalized.

MG is disease of the neuromuscular junction, a gap between the nerve ending and muscle fibre. In this disease acetylcholine that is released from the nerve ending cannot be attached to the receptors sites on the muscle fibre and when enough receptor sites have not been activated by acetylcholine (ACH), contraction of muscle cannot take place. In MG there is a reduction of these receptor sites. The reduction of receptor sites is caused by antibodies that either destroys or blocks these sites at the neuromuscular junction antibody are proteins that play an important role in our immune system. The antibodies are normally directed at antigens (foreign bodies) that attack the body like bacteria and viruses. The antibody’s help protect the body against foreign intruders. Unlike in MG, the immune system produces antibodies against the receptor sites on the N-M junction. These receptor sites are more rapidly destroyed than can be replaced and so as a result there is muscular weakness.

Diagnosis of MG depends on the physician’s knowledge of MG and expertise. In evaluating the weakness the physician will carry out a neurological examination. There are some tests, which have been diagnostic for MG. The edrophonium (TENSILON) test is done by injecting the chemical into the vein and seeing the result. Antibodies can also be measured in the blood (ACH-Receptor antibody test). Electromyography (EMG) studies include repetitive electrical stimulation of nerves of the patient. Apart from this X-Ray chest, MRI or CT scan be done to exclude any abnormally large mass in the chest and to rule out malignancy (THYMOMA). Thymoma is tumor of the thymus gland, which may become enlarged in MG.