MiaStenia Gravis: What is and how the rare chronic neuromuscular disease is taken care of whose ex tennis player Monica Seles suffers from

On the eve of the US Open, Former Serbian tennis player Monica Seles He opened on the complex battle that fights every day far from the spotlight. There Champion of nine Grand Slam titlestoday 51 years old, told the Associated Press (AP News) Of coexist with MiaStenia Gravisa rare autoimmune disease that gradually weakens the voluntary muscles.

Monica Seles explained what this pathology involves: “Sometimes even drying my hair is a huge effort.” The first signs arrived in a subtle way, during amateur tennis matches Play with friends and children, when the racket was missing simple shots: Monica Seles saw two balls instead of one. From there, the diagnosis received in 2022 and the beginning of a complex path that the former sportsman has decided to share with the general publicto raise awareness, create information and support medical research. Even if opening up on the disease was not immediate: “It took me a long time to assimilate what was happening to me and to talk about it openlybecause it is not easy at all. It affects a lot on my daily life, “Monica Seles admitted.

Symptoms and predisposing factors of MiaStenia Gravis of which Monica Seles suffers

MiaStenia Gravis is one rare autoimmune disease that compromises neuromuscular transmissionbringing to muscle weakness and quick fatigue. According to the medical platform reports Auto«I symptoms more common include Difficulty lifting the armsweakness in the lower limbs, problems of chewing, swallowing and double vision MiaStenisa Gravis’s disease can manifest itself in a subtle way, often anticipated by apparently banal signscomand see two objects instead of one or feel weak after carrying out the usual daily tasks. The Conditions that can predisporrand include one Autoimmune component already present, thyme anomalies (a small gland located behind the sternum, which is part of the immune system), familiarity with other autoimmune diseases. Age and sex also play a role. “

«MiaStenia Gravis mainly affects women under 40 and men over 60, But it can arise at any age », he explains again Medscape. The combination of muscle weakness and variable fatigue makes the diagnosis difficult without resorting to specific exams, making one essential timely attention to the first signals.

Therapies and management of MiaStenia Gravis

The treatment of MiaStenia Gravis today is based on pharmacological therapies and interventions aimed at reducing autoimmune activity and improving muscle strength. The portal of Auto underlines that “the most used drugs include the Actilcolineterase inhibitorswhich help to improve neuromuscular transmission, and corticosteroidsable to modulate the immune response. In severe cases, they can be used Immunosuppressor drugs or interventions such as plasmaferesis and intravenous immunoglobulinuseful for quickly reducing the severity of symptoms.

Some patients with MiaStenia Gravis can benefit from thyme surgery (timectomy)especially when there is a Timomathat is, a generally benign tumor of the shy gland », he explains Medscape. «The removal of the thymus It can help reduce the production of anomalous antibodies Direct against muscle receptors, thus alleviating muscle weakness and improving symptoms. Even in the absence of cancer, In patients with timica hyperplasia (i.e. enlargement or alteration of the timetable tissue), timectomy can however be taken into consideration as part of a personalized therapeutic approach “. Auto underlines that «the effectiveness and results of the surgical intervention vary from patient to patientand the decision is assessed with a multidisciplinary team of specialists. The multidisciplinary support, physiotherapy and constant monitoring They complete the care path, with the aim of improving the patient’s quality of life ».