Could giving blood regularly reduce symptoms?
I have given blood regularly my whole life, but stopped after retirement and fatigue after giving. My double vision started after that, so wondering if giving blood may have helped remove antibodies or somehow reduced symptoms.
I was always afraid to give blood...I never wanted my MG antibodies to go into someone else! Do they take them out? If a person got my blood wouldn't they have MG symptoms until their own blood replaced my blood? I always wondered so I never donated?!
Your suspicions are totally valid, and I was also surprised to learn that "MG is not contagious. It cannot spread from one person to another in blood. People with MG may donate blood if they are asymptomatic. But your doctor may advise you not to donate blood in certain situations. And certain drugs may make donating blood unsafe" (https://myasthenia-gravis.com/clinical/blood-donation, https://www.mskcc.org/about/get-involved/donating-blood/additional-donor-requirements/medical-conditions-affecting-donation, https://www.saintjohnscancer.org/blog/myasthenia-gravis/)
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However, there are limited scientific studies on the transmission of MG via blood. I suspect that researchers could eventually discover its blood-borne transmission because MG can be passed from mother to baby during birth or fetal development. "Some babies born to women with MG will exhibit signs of the disorder for the first few days or weeks of life. This is known as transient neonatal myasthenia gravis, and symptoms usually disappear within a few weeks with treatment. It's not a true autoimmune condition" (https://myasthenia-gravis.com/pregnancy).
-Jodi, Team Member
Thanks! still not really diagnosed. Seeing ophthalmologists for double vision for 9 mo and got Prism glasses that help. Tried Pyridostigmine for a few weeks, but it did not seem to help. Thinking I need to get in to see a neurologist.
It is a good idea to be seen by a neurologist who specializes in MG in case your symptoms worsen or get to the point that you need to try another treatment option. Just a heads up that they generally schedule around two months out!
-Jodi, Team Member
Hey there! It is great to see you join our community. We are glad to welcome you. How long ago were you diagnosed? Are you on any MG treatments at the moment to help with your symptoms?
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You bring up an interesting hypothesis of giving blood to potentially remove or reduce MG antibodies and/or symptoms. I think this certainly sounds plausible. Your idea of how blood donation could help ease antibodies and symptoms sounds similar to the plasma exchange process in which a machine removes the abnormal antibodies in your plasma and replaces them with healthy plasma.
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For those with MG, donating blood is generally safe if MG symptoms are entirely under control. Still, many people with MG unfortunately become ineligible to donate blood due to certain medicines, other illnesses or medical conditions, and travel histories.
-Jodi, Team Member
