Unlocking myasthenia gravis podcast series
Expert insight into the management of myasthenia gravis
Join Professor Nils Erik Gilhus and a panel of experts as they discuss a range of medical and clinical challenges in managing myasthenia gravis (MG).
This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only.
Understanding and managing triggers in myasthenia gravis
Episode 25 – Lorenzo Maggi and Nils Erik Gilhus discuss triggers of exacerbations in MG, focusing on how to recognize and manage worsening symptoms in clinical practice. They highlight common triggers and the challenges of distinguishing normal fluctuations from true exacerbations of the disease, and reflect on the importance of prevention, patient education, and individualized care.
Aging in myasthenia gravis: What’s changed?
Episode 24 – Nils Erik Gilhus and Elena Cortés‑Vicente share their clinical perspective and experience on the evolving landscape of MG in older adults, highlighting the rising incidence after age 65 and the distinct clinical features seen in this population. They discuss the challenges of managing MG alongside comorbidities and polypharmacy, and examine current and emerging therapies, underscoring the importance of preserving quality of life and improving outcomes for older patients.
Communication with patients
Episode 23 – Sophie Lehnerer joins Nils Erik Gilhus to discuss how chat-based digital communication and remote symptom monitoring can support follow-up in MG. They describe how symptom tracking using validated outcome measures and optional wearable and respiratory metrics can support needs-based reviews, strengthen continuity of care, and provide deeper clinical insight into disease burden and treatment response. This approach complements in-person visits and addresses practical and resource considerations in routine MG care.
Myasthenia gravis treatment landscape: What to expect in the future
Episode 22 – Maria Da Silva Leite and Nils Erik Gilhus examine how MG treatment approaches are evolving, with a focus on antibody-defined subtypes, treatment goals, and long-term disease control. They highlight how improved disease characterization is increasingly shaping therapeutic decision-making and consider the balance between efficacy and treatment burden, as well as how emerging targeted therapies and biomarkers may enable more selective, patient-centered management in the future.
Understanding thymectomy in MG
Episode 21 – Gil Wolfe joins Nils Erik Gilhus to discuss thymectomy in people with MG, with a focus on indications, patient selection, and optimal timing. They reflect on which people with AChR-positive generalized MG are likely to benefit from surgery, how age and disease subtype influence surgical decision-making, and why timing, minimally invasive surgery, and close neurologist–surgeon collaboration are critical to optimizing outcomes.
Understanding patients and the questions they don’t ask
Episode 20 – John Vissing discusses what patients with MG often leave unsaid in clinic, including why symptoms may not be volunteered without targeted questioning, how patients prioritize functional impact over measured muscle strength, and the hidden psychological burden that shapes treatment satisfaction. Drawing on survey data and clinical experience, the discussion highlights how asking the right questions can reveal unmet needs, fears of exacerbation, and concerns that rarely surface unprompted.
MG then and now: How the landscape has changed
Episode 19 – Henry Kaminski and Nils Erik Gilhus reflect on how MG care has evolved. From the impact of targeted therapies, such as complement and FcRn inhibitors, to breakthroughs on the horizon, they unpack why patients are doing better today, the challenges that remain, and whether emerging strategies could lead to lasting remission.
Upcoming changes in MG: AI and technology driving the future
Episode 18 – Digital innovation is transforming the way we manage MG. Henry Kaminski joins Nils Erik Gilhus to discuss the role of AI, remote monitoring, and patient-driven tools in shaping future care. Kaminski shares insights on how these technologies can improve disease tracking, strengthen patient–clinician interaction, and support the delivery of expert care across fragmented health systems.
The urgency of myasthenic crisis
Episode 17 – Tobias Ruck joins Nils Erik Gilhus to share his experience managing a compelling case involving a patient with recurrent crises and respiratory failure. Together, they discuss how to identify early red flags and emphasize the importance of timely intervention before respiratory compromise becomes critical.
Life beyond MG
Episode 16 – Professor Nils Erik Gilhus welcomes Professor Francesco Saccà to discuss quality of life in people with MG, including the outsized impact of unpredictable symptoms, striking the right balance when informing patients about the risk of myasthenic crisis, and how encouraging patients to regularly self-report symptoms can influence both wellbeing and treatment planning.
The nature of myasthenia gravis
Episode 15 – Professor Francesco Saccà joins Professor Nils Erik Gilhus to delve into the pathophysiology of MG, discussing the role of the complement system, what determines whether MG is a fully reversible disease, and the necessity of accurate biomarkers for personalised care. They also discuss the different contributions of T and B cells to MG and how these may impact the success of targeted treatments.
New and improved assays for detecting antibodies
Episode 14 – Cell-based diagnostic assays now available for MG are more sensitive than previous assays, but “are they as specific?” Professor Nils Erik Gilhus and Dr Gregorio Spagni discuss sensitivity and specificity of these new assays, as well as cost and ease of use.
EAN 2024 special
Episode 13 – Professor Jan De Bleecker joins Professor Nils Erik Gilhus to reflect on EAN 2024 and discuss key congress highlights, including information on therapeutic advances in MG.
Late-onset myasthenia gravis
Episode 12 – Professor Nils Erik Gilhus welcomes Professor Ernestina Santos to discuss late-onset MG, including the definition of late onset versus early onset, diagnostic and treatment challenges, and physical activity recommendations for these patients.
Steroids in myasthenia gravis
Episode 11 – Professor Tarek Sharshar joins Professor Nils Erik Gilhus to discuss the use of steroids in people with MG, including dose recommendations, and treatment in the intensive care setting.
Unmet needs in myasthenia gravis
Episode 10 – Professor Nils Erik Gilhus welcomes Dr Sarah Hoffmann to discuss the challenge of unmet treatment needs in MG, particularly for subgroups under-represented in clinical trials, including those who are older, pregnant, or seronegative.
Pregnancy and myasthenia gravis
Episode 9 – Dr Christiane Schneider-Gold joins Professor Nils Erik Gilhus to discuss pregnancy in people with MG, including special precautions for delivery and the risk of transient neonatal MG.
Diagnostic delay in myasthenia gravis
Episode 8 – Professor Benedikt Schoser joins Professor Nils Erik Gilhus to discuss the challenge of diagnostic delay in people with MG covering possible reasons for delays and recommended clinical tests.
Physical exercise in myasthenia gravis
Episode 7 – “It’s a matter of finding the right exercise type, based on the personality.” Professor Anna Rostedt Punga joins Professor Nils Erik Gilhus to discuss the benefits of physical therapy in people with MG, how to deal with more complex cases and the importance of educating patients.
Autoantibodies as biomarkers
Episode 6 – “Changes in antibody concentrations should influence your therapeutic decision.” Professor Nils Erik Gilhus is joined by Professor Marc De Baets to discuss the importance of regularly measuring autoantibodies to support treatment decisions in people with MG.
Myasthenia gravis: A global perspective
Episode 5 – Professor Nils Erik Gilhus welcomes South African neurologist Professor Jeannine Heckmann to discuss variability in MG presentation and treatment, and the impact of infections such as HIV between countries.
Targeted therapies in myasthenia gravis
Episode 4 – Dr Jennifer Spillane joins Professor Nils Erik Gilhus to discuss how recently launched medications targeting the pathogenic mechanisms of MG will impact management of the condition and the lives of patients.
Myasthenia gravis: A patient perspective
Episode 3 – Dr Maria Teresa Ferretti hosts this special podcast edition in which she is joined by Maya Uccheddu, a pharmacist who lives with MG, to hear about the patient experience from diagnosis to treatment and to discuss the patient–doctor relationship.
EAN 2023: Highlights and key takeaways
Episode 2 – Professor Francesco Saccà joins Professor Nils Erik Gilhus to review sessions and research presentations focusing on MG from the European Academy of Neurology 2023 Congress, and to reflect on the congress’s key discussion points.
Myasthenia gravis 101: Disease burden, diagnosis, treatment landscape, and outcomes
Episode 1 – Professor Nils Erik Gilhus and Professor Jan De Bleecker discuss the impact of early diagnosis on patient outcomes and provide expert-led insight into the treatment options available to patients with MG based on the latest research.
Key MG questions, thymectomy, and podcast insights
John Vissing and Joshua Sonett share insights on key MG questions and thymectomy, while Nils Erik Gilhus summarizes the podcast series.
Meet the host
Professor Nils Erik Gilhus
Nils Erik Gilhus is a Professor of Neurology at the University of Bergen, Norway, and Consultant Neurologist at Haukeland University Hospital. MG represents his major research topic.
Disclosures: Honoraria from Alexion, argenx, Denka, Dianthus, Huma, Immunovent, Janssen, Merck, Roche, and UCB Pharma.
This content has been developed independently by Medthority who previously received educational funding from argenx in order to help provide its healthcare professional members with access to the highest quality medical and scientific information, education and associated relevant content.