Myasthenia gravis affects the muscles by preventing contraction of muscles by affecting the nervous communication to the muscle cell. It is a very rare autoimmune disorder which occurs when antibodies produced by the body attack the neuromuscular junction causing muscle weaknesses by blocking nervous connection.

Symptoms of myasthenia gravis include fatigue, facial paralysis, trouble with movements like walking, lifting objects, talking, eyelid movements, breathing and swallowing. Complete symptoms may not be visible in all individuals.

Myasthenia gravis as such is not life threatening. However, complications arising from myasthenia gravis may be fatal. The major life-threatening complication is myasthenic crisis which causes difficulty in breathing by preventing movement of the respiratory muscles.

Myasthenia gravis may not be completely curable. However, it can be easily managed through treatment such as surgery or medications that suppress the immune system thus preventing formation of the antibodies that cause this condition.

Surgical removal of the thymus gland which is responsible for producing antibodies may be done for some patients. This procedure is especially done for patients having thymus gland tumours.