Diagnosing Myasthenia Gravis

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Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. You may need to see a neurologist, a specialist who is an expert in diseases involving the nervous system.

Tests may include the following:

• Blood tests can identify the presence of abnormal antibodies
• Electromyography (EMG) tests can reveal abnormalities in muscle functioning
• Repetitive nerve stimulation tests will show progressively increasing muscle weakness over the course of the test
• The “Tensilon test” involves giving a patient a dose of a medication called edrophonium chloride, which will temporarily and briefly improve muscle weakness
• CT scan or MRI scan of the chest to look for a tumor of the thymus gland (thymoma)
• Blood tests to look for thyroid disease (increased in patients with MG)
• Pulmonary function testing to assess how MG may be affecting your ability to breathe