2. This patient lost control of her eye and eyelid rather suddenly and then noticed difficulty swallowing and slurred speech. She is now experiencing limb weakness that worsens as the day progresses.
Diagnosis: Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by varying degrees of weakness of the skeletal muscles of the body. Muscles that control eye and eyelid movement, facial expression, chewing, talking, and swallowing are often, but not always, involved in the disorder. The muscles that control breathing and neck and limb movements may also be affected.
For more information, see “Test Accurately Diagnoses Myasthenia Gravis.” Neurology Reviews. 2016;24(3):36.