Definition - a disease in which the immune system attacks the body's own tissues ("autoimmune" disease); the attack occurs at the junction between nerve and muscle and interferes with the ability of nerve cells to send signals to muscle cells

Cause - If LES appears in association with cancer, the cause may be that the body’s attempt to fight the cancer inadvertently causes it to attack nerve fiber endings (specifically, the so-called voltage-gated calcium channels found there); the trigger for LES when not associated with cancer is unknown

Onset - childhood to adulthood

Symptoms - initially, leg weakness and difficulty walking; weakness of the eye muscles, and those involved in talking, chewing and swallowing may occur later; dry mouth, constipation, impotence and bladder urgency sometimes occur; associated with some type of cancer in about 60 percent of cases

Progression - depends on whether it occurs with cancer; treatable in all forms

Inheritance - There appears to be a genetic predisposition to autoimmune diseases.

Facts About MG, Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome and CMS