Myasthenia Gravis Risk Factors

Cary D. Buckner, M.D., talks about Myasthenia Gravis risk to other family members.

Myasthenia Gravis Risk Factors Male1: If somebody is diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis in the family, is there an increased risk of primary family relatives or not? Male2: Yeah, there is an increase risks and I have to tell my patients that the overall— Male1: So, you would either check or be careful in the history with some—that primary relative, mother, father, brother, sister, type of thing? Male2: It’s not a true genetic disease where you have a very high percentage of getting the disease if your parent has it but there’s definitely increase risk in family members. One thing to remember, the incidents of Myasthenia Gravis on general population is estimated, different estimates would say up to 10 in a 100,000. So, even if you have a drastically increase risk in a family member, there is still low risk of you developing Myasthenia Gravis and I would tell my patients if there’s any family members or ask them who have similar symptoms of weakness, droopy eye, double vision and I won’t test them right way. Male1: But you would be aware that as soon as the family and it seems there is still a thing you would do the work, is that correct? Male2: Absolutely, yeah.