What are the primary causes of myasthenia gravis?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the neuromuscular junction—the critical communication point between nerves and muscles. This disrupts the signals that tell muscles to contract, leading to muscle weakness and fatigue.

If you're experiencing unexplained muscle weakness, drooping eyelids, or difficulty swallowing, it's important to understand what may be causing your symptoms. Because myasthenia gravis shares signs with many other conditions, getting clarity early can help guide your next steps. Take a free, instant, online symptom check to better understand your symptoms and know when to seek medical care.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/14/2026

Important Next Steps

Learn if myasthenia gravis is causing weakness Discover likely causes of your muscle weakness See whether symptoms fit myasthenia gravis Find OTC options for muscle weakness relief Find a neurologist for myasthenia gravis Discover medically valid home remedies for weakness Understand if this could be myasthenia gravis

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Explanation

Myasthenia gravis is a condition where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks certain parts of the body that help muscles work properly. This usually involves the immune system creating antibodies that target proteins at the junction where nerves and muscles communicate.

Key Causes:

Antibodies Against Acetylcholine Receptors: Most commonly, the immune system creates antibodies against acetylcholine receptors, which are crucial for nerve signals to reach muscles and make them move.
Other Antibodies: In some cases, antibodies might target other proteins like agrin, which also play a role in muscle function.

How It Affects the Body:

Muscle Weakness: Because the nerve signals can't properly reach the muscles, this leads to muscle weakness, which is the main symptom of myasthenia gravis. If you're experiencing unexplained muscle weakness or other concerning symptoms, try our free AI-powered symptom checker to help identify potential causes and determine if you should seek medical attention.

Overall, the immune system's attack on these important parts of the body's muscle communication system is what leads to the symptoms of myasthenia gravis.

(References)

Scheife RT, Hills JR, & Munsat TL. (1981). Myasthenia gravis: signs, symptoms, diagnosis, .... Pharmacotherapy, 6927602.
Gilhus NE, Tzartos S, Evoli A, Palace J, Burns TM, & Verschuuren JJGM. (2019). Myasthenia gravis. Nature reviews. Disease primers, 31048702.
Yan M, Liu Z, Fei E, Chen W, Lai X, Luo B, et al. (2018). Induction of Anti-agrin Antibodies Causes Myasthenia .... Neuroscience, 29339325.

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