Myasthenia gravis

Tennis champion Monica Seles is speaking publicly for the first time about her battle with a rare, incurable muscle-weakening disease.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a chronic neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in "voluntary muscles," according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes.

Voluntary muscles are the ones that connect to the bones, face, throat and diaphragm. They contract to move the arms and legs and are essential for breathing, swallowing and facial movements.

"My MG journey over the past five years has not been an easy one," Seles said in a press release announcing her collaboration with the immunology company argenx. 

"I felt isolated and defeated, as many of the activities I enjoyed were no longer physically possible for me."

Seles' partnership with argenx aims to raise awareness and understanding of MG, and to connect those affected with available tools and resources.

What to know about myasthenia gravis

Myasthenia gravis is classified as an autoimmune disease, according to Dr. Earnest Lee Murray, a board-certified neurologist at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital in Jackson, Tennessee.

This means the body’s own defense system attacks the connection between the nerves and muscles.

"I felt isolated and defeated, as many of the activities I enjoyed were no longer physically possible for me."

"Myasthenia gravis is different from other neuromuscular diseases in that oftentimes, patients’ symptoms fluctuate throughout the day," Murray told Fox News Digital.

Overall symptoms range from very mild double vision and droopiness of the eyelids to difficulty walking, breathing and swallowing.

"Some patients who start with only mild eye symptoms can progress to more severe symptoms in the first few years of their diagnosis," the doctor added.

However, some patients only experience eye issues.

Heat, such as from summer weather or hot showers, can make symptoms worse, according to experts. As physical exertion can also exacerbate symptoms, Murray noted that patients must pace themselves.

Certain health conditions — like COVID-19, the flu or urinary tract infections — can trigger a serious worsening of symptoms, called a "myasthenic crisis," which often leads to hospitalization for closer respiratory monitoring.

It's important for patients to let their physicians know they have myasthenia gravis before starting a new medication, Murray said, as some drugs, including antibiotics, can worsen symptoms. 

"If there is a question, patients can always check with their neurologist," he advised.

Doctors typically manage MG in two ways. First, they may prescribe a medication like pyridostigmine, which can temporarily reduce muscle weakness, according to Mayo Clinic.

They may also prescribe medications that calm the immune system to stop it from attacking the nerves and muscles.

In the past, this immune suppression was done with steroids like prednisone. Now, there are newer medicines that target the disease more directly. These targeted treatments can work well and may cause fewer side effects, according to Murray.

While MG can be serious, the doctor stressed that it’s not the end of the road. 

"Most patients live a fairly normal life, both personally and professionally," he said. "With close management and a neurologist familiar with MG, treatments can be tailored to optimize patients’ quality of life."

Anyone who experiences occasional double vision, eyelid drooping or weakness that gets worse with fatigue should talk to their doctor about getting tested, Murray recommends. 

Diagnosis usually involves blood tests, nerve tests and a neurological evaluation.

Symptoms like trouble breathing, swallowing or holding the head up require immediate emergency care, Murray said.

Khloe Quill 

https://www.foxnews.com/health/tennis-champion-monica-seles-reveals-incurable-disease-doctor-shares-what-know

Nine-time Grand Slam champion Monica Seles is speaking out about her health for the first time after she was diagnosed three years ago with a rare neuromuscular autoimmune disease. 

The International Tennis Hall of Famer revealed her diagnosis of myasthenia gravis in a recent interview with The Associated Press, with the hope of bringing awareness to the disease, which she acknowledged she had not known about before. 

"When I got diagnosed, I was like, ‘What?!’" Seles told the outlet. "So this is where — I can’t emphasize enough — I wish I had somebody like me speak up about it."

Seles, 51, was diagnosed with the disease in 2023. She told the AP that she was concerned when she noticed double vision while playing tennis. Missing a ball was something that stood out for the legendary tennis star, whose career featured four Australian Open titles, three French Open titles and two U.S. Open wins. 

"I would be playing with some kids or family members, and I would miss a ball. I was like, ‘Yeah, I see two balls.’ These are obviously symptoms that you can’t ignore," Seles said. "And, for me, this is when this journey started. And it took me quite some time to really absorb it, speak openly about it, because it’s a difficult one. It affects my day-to-day life quite a lot."

Myasthenia gravis is described by the Cleveland Clinic as an autoimmune disease that causes skeletal muscle weakness. It affects about 20 out of every 100,000 people worldwide and is most common in women around the age of 40 and men over the age of 60. 

Blurry and double vision are just some of the common symptoms, which also include muscle weakness in the arms, hands, legs and neck and difficulty speaking, swallowing or chewing. There is no cure for myasthenia gravis, but treatment is available to help manage symptoms.

Seles called her approach to the diagnosis a "reset," something she’s had to do many times during her tennis career.  

"I had to, in tennis terms, I guess, reset — hard reset — a few times. I call my first hard reset when I came to the U.S. as a young 13-year-old (from Yugoslavia). Didn’t speak the language; left my family. It’s a very tough time. Then, obviously, becoming a great player, it’s a reset, too, because the fame, money, the attention, changes (everything), and it’s hard as a 16-year-old to deal with all that. Then obviously my stabbing — I had to do a huge reset." 

Seles stepped away from the sport for about two years after she was stabbed in Germany during a match in April 1993. She returned to win her fourth Australian Open title in 1996, her final singles Grand Slam title. 

"Being diagnosed with myasthenia gravis: another reset. But one thing, as I tell kids that I mentor: ‘You’ve got to always adjust. That ball is bouncing, and you’ve just got to adjust,’" Seles told the AP. "And that’s what I’m doing now."

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Paulina Dedaj

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/tennis-great-monica-seles-opens-up-about-myasthenia-gravis-years-after-shocking-diagnosis