Former tennis star Monica Seles has revealed she has been diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, a rare autoimmune condition that affects how the muscles work. The multiple Grand Slam champion says she was actually diagnosed three years ago after experiencing trouble with her vision and weakness in her arms and legs.
It is estimated that myasthenia gravis affects between three and 12 in every 100,000 people and occurs when the body attacks the neuromuscular junction – a specialised connection between the muscles and the body’s neurons (nerve cells). This reduces the ability to transmit neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) across the junction, affecting the way the muscles contract and function.
