National Health Council — Voluntary Health Agency Guide

Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc.

The Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) is dedicated to the conquest of myasthenia gravis (MG) and related disorders of the neuromuscular junction, and to improving the lives of all people affected by the disease through programs of research, patient care, patient services, professional education and public information. MGFA was founded in 1952 and has 35 chapters nationwide, with over a dozen international affiliates.

About the condition(s):

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is the most common primary disorder of neuromuscular transmission. The usual cause is an acquired immunological abnormality, but some cases result from genetic abnormalities at the neuromuscular junction. Much has been learned about the pathophysiology and immunopathology of myasthenia gravis during the past 20 years. What was once a relatively obscure condition of interest primarily to neurologists is now the best characterized and understood autoimmune disease. A wide range of potentially effective treatments is available, many of which have implications for the treatment of other autoimmune disorders.