What is the difference between Myasthenia Gravis and Guillain Barre Syndrome?

They are both what is called "Auto-immune Diseases". The body's White blood cells normally produce "Anti-bodies" to fight infection. In these illnesses, the anti-bodies attack the body instead.

In Myasthenia Gravis, the anti-bodies attack the junction between the nerve and muscle, causing weakness that gets worse the more that you try and move. It commonly affects the eye muscles, speach and swallowing muscles, and also the muscles in the arms and legs. It is a lifelong condition, but very often it can be very effectively suppressed so that it doesnt cause any problem.

Guillain Barre Syndrome often comes on after an infection eg diarrhoea, chest infection etc, and the antibodies attack the covering of nerves called the myelin sheath. This typically causes an ascending weakness which can progress over hours or days. If it gets severe, it can even affect the muscles of breathing. It usually takes between a few weeks to a couple of months to recover. Most people fully recover and are never affected again. Treatment can be given when the weakness starts to help prevent further deterioration, and helps to speed up recovery.

If you want any further info, you can email me.

Guillain Barr茅 is an inflammatory demyelinizating disease, slowing down the transmission of impulses throughout the neurons.

Myastenia gravis is an autoimmune disease that attacks acetylcolin receptors, not the myelin.

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