Overview
Adult-onset myasthenia gravis (often called MG) is a chronic autoimmune condition that causes weakness in the voluntary muscles — the muscles you use to move, breathe, swallow, and see. In this disease, the immune system mistakenly produces antibodies that attack the connection between nerves and muscles, called the neuromuscular junction. This disrupts the normal signals that tell your muscles to contract, leading to muscle weakness that typically gets worse with activity and improves with rest. The most common early symptoms include drooping eyelids, double vision, difficulty swallowing or speaking, and weakness in the arms or legs. In some people, the weakness can affect the muscles used for breathing, which can become a medical emergency known as a myasthenic crisis. The disease can fluctuate, with periods of worsening (exacerbations) and improvement (remissions). Treatment has improved significantly over the past few decades. Most people with MG can achieve good symptom control with medications such as cholinesterase inhibitors, immunosuppressive drugs, and newer biologic therapies. Some patients benefit from surgical removal of the thymus gland (thymectomy). While there is no cure, many people with adult-onset MG lead active, fulfilling lives with proper treatment and monitoring.
Also known as:
Key symptoms:
Drooping eyelids (ptosis)Double visionDifficulty swallowingSlurred or nasal-sounding speechWeakness in arms and legsDifficulty chewing foodShortness of breath or breathing difficultyFatigue that worsens with activityDifficulty holding up the headFacial muscle weaknessWeak grip strengthDifficulty climbing stairsChoking on food or liquidsUnstable or waddling walk
Multifactorial
Caused by a mix of several genes and environmental factors
Adult
Begins in adulthood (age 18 or older)
FDA & Trial Timeline
10 eventsUCB Biopharma SRL — PHASE3
UCB Biopharma SRL — PHASE3
Amgen — PHASE2
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated — PHASE2
Ad scientiam — NA
First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University — NA
The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University — NA
Cartesian Therapeutics — PHASE1, PHASE2
The Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine — NA
Kite, A Gilead Company — PHASE1
Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Adult-onset myasthenia gravis.
20 clinical trialsare actively recruiting — trials can provide access to cutting-edge therapies.
View clinical trials →Rare Disease Specialist
Rare Disease Specialist
Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Adult-onset myasthenia gravis.
Community
No community posts yet. Be the first to share your experience with Adult-onset myasthenia gravis.
Start the conversation →Latest news about Adult-onset myasthenia gravis
Disease timeline:
New recruiting trial: Validation and Scaling of Screening Program for Undiagnosed Myasthenia Gravis-Social Media Campaign Paired With a Self-moderated Assessment
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Adult-onset myasthenia gravis
New recruiting trial: Safety and Efficacy of CT103A Cells for Relapsed/Refractory Antibody-associated Inflammatory Diseases of the Nervous System
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Adult-onset myasthenia gravis
New recruiting trial: Safety and Efficacy of BAFF-R CART for Refractory Neuroimmune Diseases
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Adult-onset myasthenia gravis
New recruiting trial: Universal Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell （UCAR T-cell） Therapy Targeting CD19/B Cell Maturation Antigen （CD19/BCMA） in Patients With r/r Neurological Autoimmune Diseases
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Adult-onset myasthenia gravis
New recruiting trial: Precision Diagnosis and Prospective Cohort Study for Myasthenia Gravis: Multicenter Analysis in China
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Adult-onset myasthenia gravis
New recruiting trial: TCM Tongue Diagnosis and Syndrome Differentiation in Myasthenia Gravis Compared to Healthy Controls
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Adult-onset myasthenia gravis
New recruiting trial: Sensitivity of Repetitive Nerve Stimulation Performed in the Evening vs in the Morning in Myasthenia Gravis
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Adult-onset myasthenia gravis
New recruiting trial: Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of CAR-T Cells in the Treatment of Refractory Myasthenia Gravis
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Adult-onset myasthenia gravis
New recruiting trial: Efficacy and Safety of HN2302 in Refractory Myasthenia Gravis(MG)
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Adult-onset myasthenia gravis
New recruiting trial: Application of Artificial Intelligence in Precision Medicine and Healthcare
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Adult-onset myasthenia gravis
Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
Rare disease caregiving can be isolating. Connect with counseling and peer support.
Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.What type of myasthenia gravis do I have — is it ocular or generalized?,Which antibodies were found in my blood tests, and what does that mean for my treatment options?,Should I be evaluated for thymectomy, and would it benefit me?,What medications should I avoid because they could worsen my MG?,What are the warning signs of a myasthenic crisis, and what should I do if one occurs?,Are the newer biologic therapies an option for me, and how do they compare to traditional treatments?,How will MG affect my ability to work, exercise, and do daily activities, and what support is available?
Common questions about Adult-onset myasthenia gravis
What is Adult-onset myasthenia gravis?
Adult-onset myasthenia gravis (often called MG) is a chronic autoimmune condition that causes weakness in the voluntary muscles — the muscles you use to move, breathe, swallow, and see. In this disease, the immune system mistakenly produces antibodies that attack the connection between nerves and muscles, called the neuromuscular junction. This disrupts the normal signals that tell your muscles to contract, leading to muscle weakness that typically gets worse with activity and improves with rest. The most common early symptoms include drooping eyelids, double vision, difficulty swallowing or
How is Adult-onset myasthenia gravis inherited?
Adult-onset myasthenia gravis follows a multifactorial inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
At what age does Adult-onset myasthenia gravis typically begin?
Typical onset of Adult-onset myasthenia gravis is adult. Age of onset can vary across affected individuals.
Are there clinical trials for Adult-onset myasthenia gravis?
Yes — 20 recruiting clinical trials are currently listed for Adult-onset myasthenia gravis on UniteRare. See the clinical trials section on this page for phase, sponsor, and site details sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Which specialists treat Adult-onset myasthenia gravis?
25 specialists and care centers treating Adult-onset myasthenia gravis are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.