The Original Madame Web Actually Had A Debilitating Neurological Disease
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Madame Web hit theaters on February 14, which means Marvel fans finally get the chance to see Spider-Woman come to life on the big screen. But, of course, this is Hollywood, so directors made a slight change to the main character, Madame Web's, origin story.
In the original story, Madame Web, a.k.a. Cassandra Webb (who is played in the movie by Dakota Johnson) has a condition called myasthenia gravis, which made her dependent on a life support system that looked like a massive spider web. Unlike Dakota's version of "Madame Web," the Madame Web from the comics is portrayed as an older woman with psychic sensory powers who never fought villains. Meanwhile the newer version of Cassandra Webb still has psychic powers, she doesn’t have myasthenia gravis.
All of the renewed attention on the comics raises questions about myasthenia gravis and the surprising health history behind Madame Here’s what you need to know:
What is myasthenia gravis?
Myasthenia gravis is a lifelong neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in the voluntary muscles, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). It can affect muscles connected to the bones, and in the face, throat, and diaphragm—which are essential for breathing and swallowing, among other things.
What are the different types of myasthenia gravis?
The disease can be broken down into different classes, and they largely depend on which parts of the body are affected. Here’s a breakdown:
Class I: eye muscle weakness, including trouble closing the eyes. All other muscle groups are normal.
Class II: mild weakness of muscles other than eye muscles.
Class IIa: weakness of the limbs, trunk and head muscles, or both. It may also involve the muscle used to swallow.
Class IIb: weakness in muscles used to swallow, respiratory muscles, or both. It can have the involvement of limb, trunk and head muscles, or both to a lesser extent.
Class III: moderate weakness in muscles (not including eye muscles).
Class IIIa: weakness in muscles related to limbs, the head and/or trunk. Muscles used to swallow can be involved to a lesser degree.
Class IIIb: affects mostly swallowing muscles, respiratory muscles, or both. The limb, head and trunk muscles, or both can have lesser or equal involvement.
Class IV: severe weakness of affected muscles.
Class IVa: weakness in muscles related to limbs, head and/or the trunk. Muscles used for swallowing can be involved to a lesser degree.
Class IVb: affects muscles used for swallowing, respiratory muscles, or both predominantly. The limb, head and trunk muscles, or both can have lesser or equal involvement. It also includes patients requiring feeding tubes without intubation.
Class V: requires intubation with or without mechanical ventilation.
What causes it?
Myasthenia gravis is caused by an error in how nerve signals are sent to muscles, NINDS says. The thymus gland, which controls immune function, may also be involved.
In rare cases, the condition can be genetic, the Mayo Clinic says.
What are the symptoms?
According to the NINDS, symptoms of myasthenia gravis can include:
Weakness of the eye muscles
Drooping of one or both eyelids
Blurred or double vision
Changes in facial expressions
Difficulty swallowing
Shortness of breath
Impaired speech
Weakness in the arms, hands, fingers, legs, and neck
Is there any treatment?
While myasthenia gravis can’t be cured, there is treatment that can help.
Treatments include medications like corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and cholinesterase inhibitors, along with IV therapies, the Mayo Clinic says. Surgery to remove the thymus gland can also help, the organization says.
How common is it?
Myasthenia gravis is not common—the condition impacts 14 to 20 per 100,000 people, and there are about 36,000 to 60,000 cases of the disease in the U.S., according to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America.
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