- Acetylcholine (ACh)
Acetylcholine helps carry messages from the brain to different parts of the body, including muscles. In gMG, harmful AChR antibodies damage the receptors for acetylcholine on muscles, which causes muscle weakness. - Acetylcholine receptor (AChR)
A type of receptor (message receiver) found on muscles. These receptors receive messages from nerves that tell muscles what to do. Patients with gMG who have antibodies that damage AChR receptors are called anti-AChR antibody positive gMG patients. Anti-AChR antibody positive is the most common type of gMG. - Acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody
Sometimes the immune system mistakenly makes IgG antibodies that target AChR receptors. These are known as harmful AChR antibodies. gMG patients with harmful AChR antibodies have anti-AChR antibody positive gMG. - Anti-AChR antibody positive gMG
The most common type of gMG. People with gMG who have harmful antibodies that damage acetylcholine receptors (AChR) are called anti-AChR antibody positive gMG patients. - Antibody fragment
An antibody fragment is only part of a whole antibody. For example, the bottom section of the Y-shaped antibody is a fragment. - Autoimmune
Autoimmune means that the immune system, which normally protects you, is mistakenly attacking itself. - Biologics
Biologics treat disease by using substances made from living organisms. These substances may naturally occur in the body or may be artificially created. A biologic must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used as a treatment in the United States. - Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody
A Y-shaped protein made by the immune system. Antibodies attach to different things to let the immune system know that there is a potential threat that it will need to destroy or neutralize. Antibodies can attach to disease-causing substances like bacteria and viruses. - Immunosuppressive therapy (IST)
A type of medication used to reduce the strength of the body’s immune system. It is often used to treat conditions where the immune system is overactive, like in autoimmune diseases. - Intravenous (IV) infusion
Given by inserting a needle into a vein so that the medication immediately enters the bloodstream. - Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) scale
The MG-ADL scale assesses the impact of gMG on daily functions by measuring 8 signs or symptoms that are commonly affected in gMG: the ability to speak, chew, swallow, breathe, brush teeth or comb hair, and get out of a chair, as well as the frequency of double vision and eyelid droop. Each item is measured on a 4-point scale, where a score of 0 represents normal function and a score of 3 represents the loss of ability to perform that function. Total scores range from 0 to 24 points, with a higher score showing more severe gMG. - Neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn)
A receptor that attaches to IgG antibodies and helps them stay in the body longer. In gMG, the IgG antibodies and harmful AChR antibodies can both attach to FcRns to stay in the body longer. - Placebo
An inactive substance used in a study that looks like the medicine being tested. - Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) scale
The QMG scale assesses muscle weakness in gMG based on 13 items. Each item is assessed on a 4-point scale, where a score of 0 represents no muscle weakness and a score of 3 represents severe muscle weakness. Total scores range from 0 to 39, with a higher score meaning muscle weakness is more severe. - Study
A study, also known as a clinical trial, is a type of research that tests the safety and effectiveness of a treatment in people. The FDA reviews the results of studies to determine if a treatment is safe and effective for use in a specific condition. - Subcutaneous injection
Given by delivering medicine into the layer beneath the skin.