Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Adult onset myasthenia gravis in three Great Dane siblings
By Kent, M et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2008·Veterinary Teaching Hospital, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Adult onset acquired myasthenia gravis in three Great Dane littermates.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Three adult Great Dane littermates were brought to the vet after showing sudden signs of weakness and trouble moving. Tests revealed that all three dogs had high levels of antibodies that attack their muscle receptors, confirming they had acquired myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disease. This case suggests that there may be a genetic link in this family of dogs, as it's uncommon for this breed to develop this condition. Treatment options typically include medications to help manage the symptoms and improve muscle function.
People also search for: Great Dane weakness · myasthenia gravis treatment for dogs · autoimmune disease in dogs
Abstract
Acquired canine myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease in which autoantibodies are directed against muscle postsynaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Three adult great dane littermates were evaluated over a four month time period for an acute onset of generalised neuromuscular signs. All three dogs had elevated serum acetylcholine receptor antibody titres, which were considered diagnostic for acquired myasthenia gravis. Identification of three littermates with acquired myasthenia gravis in a breed with a low relative risk of developing the disease suggests a familial and possibly a genetic predisposition to myasthenia gravis in this family of dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18684140/