ULTOMIRIS® Infusion Therapy for Myasthenia Gravis
In patients with myasthenia gravis, the muscles that you can normal voluntarily control feel weak and get tired quickly. Unfortunately, the symptoms tend to progress over time. To manage the disease, many doctors are recommending IV infusion treatment. At CPS Infusion, we offer ULTOMIRIS IV infusion therapy for patients with myasthenia gravis.
What Is Myasthenia Gravis?
This condition can affect any of the muscles that you can control, most commonly the arms, legs, eyes, throat, mouth, and neck. It is caused by a breakdown in communication between the nerves and muscles. The symptoms of the condition can be wide ranging, including difficulty moving the arms or legs, drooping eyelids, and double vision; patients may also experience issues with speaking, chewing, swallowing, and breathing.
Diagnosing Myasthenia Gravis
To diagnose myasthenia gravis, doctors will perform a physical and neurological exam, checking your eye movements, reflexes, muscle strength, muscle tone, senses of touch and sight, coordination, balance, and other signs of muscle weakness.
A blood test can detect abnormal antibodies that disrupt the receptor sites where nerves communicate with your muscles so they move. Most patients with myasthenia gravis have higher than normal levels of antibodies (specifically the anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive) that prevent muscle contraction by targeting acetylcholine receptor sites at the neuromuscular junction, the area in which the nerves connect to the muscles they control.
Other possible tests for myasthenia gravis include a CT scan, MRI, single-fiber electromyography (EMG), and nerve conduction studies that use repetitive nerve stimulation to detect the condition.
Treating Myasthenia Gravis
The treatment of this condition depends on several factors, including the type of myasthenia gravis the patient has, the muscles or areas of the body that are affected, and the symptoms. Options have included daily medications like immunosuppressants, corticosteroids, or cholinesterase inhibitors; or surgical procedures like robot-assisted thymectomy and video-assisted thymectomy.
ULTOMIRIS IV infusion therapy for patients with myasthenia gravis has been shown to be effective and offers many benefits. Patients undergo IV therapy on a specific schedule so they don’t need to take pills everyday or undergo invasive treatment like surgery.
How ULTOMIRIS Works
This FDA-approved medication can be used to treat generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) in adults who are anti-acetylcholine receptor (Anti-AChR) antibody positive. Anti-AChR antibodies target the neuromuscular junction, causing inflammation; they also block and destroy the acetylcholine receptor sites to stop the muscle contraction and cause muscle weakness.
When the anti-AChR autoantibody binds to its target, it triggers a response in the body’s complement system, which is a group of immune proteins that are normally inactive. Specifically, the C5 protein results in activation of other complement proteins, causing damage to the muscle cells.
ULTOMIRIS IV therapy works by blocking the C5 protein, thereby preventing muscle damage and stopping the complement system from being triggered.
What to Expect?
If your doctor prescribes ULTOMIRIS IV therapy for your myasthenia gravis, you will typically undergo a starter dose at one of our CPS infusion centers. Your doctor will also prescribe a maintenance schedule, which is usually scheduled every 8 weeks or so, depending on your needs.
Why Patients and Physicians Choose Us
The ease of our process is ideal for both patients and physicians. Once the doctor submits the patient’s referral and order form, medical records, and health insurance information, we can approve patients for treatment. We will then reach out to the patient to schedule an appointment at one of our several locations.
Contact CPS Infusion
Contact CPS Infusion today to get started with ULTOMIRIS IV infusion therapy for myasthenia gravis.