Neurologists at the leading private clinic Ichilov in Israel specialize in treating myasthenia in children and adults. Specialists at the neurology center develop protocols for accurate diagnosis of congenital and acquired forms of the disease. Highly effective treatment and rehabilitation methods guarantee a favorable prognosis.
The basis of the treatment course consists of the latest generation drugs aimed at suppressing autoimmune reactions, plasma exchange, and performing thymectomy (surgery to remove the thymus gland). Robot-assisted surgery is available at the Ichilov clinic, allowing for minimized risks and accelerated rehabilitation periods.
Numerous patient reviews of the clinic confirm the highly professional and ultra-modern approach to myasthenia therapy in this country. Thanks to this, patients return to a full life and avoid severe complications.
Myasthenia Treatment Methods
In individuals with myasthenia, the immune system produces abnormal antibodies that prevent muscles from receiving signals from nerves that tell them when to relax or contract. This causes muscle weakness with symptoms that may include double vision or blurred vision (weakness of the eye muscles), drooping eyelids (weakness of the eyelid muscles), difficulties with speech and swallowing (weakness of the throat muscles), and weakness of the limbs.
Currently, there are several treatment methods that help reduce muscle weakness. Most people with myasthenia can expect good treatment outcomes.
Medication Treatment
The medications used include cholinesterase inhibitors such as neostigmine and pyridostigmine. These drugs help improve nerve signals to muscles and increase muscle strength. Immunosuppressants such as prednisone, cyclosporine, and azathioprine may also be used to suppress the production of abnormal antibodies.
Surgery
The goal of thymectomy is to eliminate the source of abnormal antibody formation causing the disease, leading to the disappearance of symptoms. The benefits of thymectomy do not manifest immediately after surgery, so patients will continue their treatment regimen after the procedure with the aim of tapering off these medications over time. The individual response to thymectomy varies depending on the patient's age, response to prior medication therapy, severity of the disease, and duration of myasthenia. Overall, 70% of patients experience complete remission or a significant reduction in medication needs within a year after the procedure.
Thymectomy can be performed using several different surgical methods:
- Transsternal thymectomy: in this procedure, an incision is made in the skin over the sternum, and the breastbone is divided (sternotomy) to expose the thymus gland. The surgeon removes the thymus gland through this incision, as well as any residual fat in the center of the chest that may contain additional thymic cells. This approach is typically used when the patient has a thymoma.
- Transcervical thymectomy: in this procedure, an incision is made in the lower part of the neck, just above the sternum. The surgeon removes the thymus gland through this incision without dividing the sternum. This is mainly used in patients without thymoma.
- Robotic thymectomy and video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy (VATS): these minimally invasive methods involve several tiny incisions in the chest. A camera is inserted through one of the incisions, and the surgery is performed under video control. The surgeon removes the thymus gland using special surgical instruments inserted through other incisions. The goal is to achieve the same result as with the more invasive transsternal approach, with less postoperative discomfort and faster recovery.
Plasmapheresis
This is a procedure during which abnormal antibodies are removed from the blood.
High-Dose Immunoglobulin
This treatment temporarily disrupts the immune system's ability to damage neuromuscular junctions. Treatment options for a person with myasthenia depend on the degree of weakness, affected muscles, age of the person, and other medical issues.
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Disease Diagnosis
On the first day, the doctor will conduct a medical examination. This includes a detailed (neurological) examination of the nervous system, during which the doctor will check the symptoms and signs of the disease, reflexes, study the medical history, and order tests to clarify the diagnosis.
The second day is dedicated to laboratory and instrumental diagnostics. Types of tests that the doctor may order include:
- Antibody test for acetylcholine receptors associated with this disease
- CT or MRI of the chest to look for tumors
- Nerve conduction studies to check how quickly electrical signals pass through the nerve
- Electromyography (EMG) to check the health of the muscles and nerves controlling the muscles.
- Pulmonary function tests to measure breathing and how well the lungs are functioning.
- Edrophonium test to see if this medication temporarily alleviates symptoms.
At the final stage of diagnosis, the doctor assembles a consultation to discuss the clinical case, determine the prognosis, and select the most appropriate treatment protocol.
How Much Does Myasthenia Treatment Cost
The cost of treatment consists of the costs of all medical and diagnostic procedures assigned to the patient and may vary from case to case. The final treatment cost is determined after the completion of diagnostics at the clinic, only at this stage can the patient learn the exact cost.
Preliminary costs are calculated before arriving at the clinic. The patient can also request a price audit and compare offers from different clinics. In any case, treatment in Israel is always 30-40% cheaper than in Germany or America, while maintaining the highest quality of all procedures. This is why, in the last decade, the most preferred destination for medical tourism has been Israel.
Advantages of Treatment in Israel
- High-class medical staff, the best experts in treating myasthenia, known not only in Israel but also beyond its borders.
- Availability of effective methods that have not yet entered the protocols of most clinics worldwide.
- Modern equipment, robot-assisted systems ensuring precise, safe treatment.
- Comfortable accommodation in modern wards, assistance in resolving everyday issues, all kinds of support from the clinic's international department.