Advancing Care in Myasthenia Gravis: What Can We Learn From the Multiple Sclerosis Community?
摘要
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a chronic, autoimmune, neurological condition characterized by fluctuating muscle weakness and fatigue, driven by autoantibodies against the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Real-world evidence studies of patient registry data show that conventional treatments do not provide sufficient disease control for some patients and that, for them, significant health, quality of life, and economic burdens remain. In recent years, several new, targeted treatments for MG have become available. In light of this evolution of the MG treatment landscape, patients and clinicians have the opportunity to elevate their treatment goals, moving from previously accepted residual symptoms to targeting complete symptom resolution and prioritizing preservation of the NMJ to minimize damage. Patients with MG can now all aim for a fully functional life well into old age, but this requires a concerted and multi-stakeholder approach to disease management. Insights from other neurological diseases in which the availability of new therapies has sparked a shift in patient care could drive faster improvements in MG care. Here, we examine how the multiple sclerosis (MS) community evolved its approach to disease management with the availability of new treatments around a decade ago. In reflecting on the multi-faceted approach taken by the MS community to drive change and improve healthcare outcomes for patients with MS, we ask the questions ‘What could constitute best practice care and good outcomes for patients with MG in the future?’ and ‘How do we, as an MG community, get there?’.