Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dogs with megaesophagus often have underlying neurological disease
By Gomes, Sergio A et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2020·From Dovecote Veterinary Hospital, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Canine Nonstructural Megaesophagus as a Clinical Sign of Potential Neurological Disease: 99 Cases.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 99 dogs with a condition called megaesophagus (ME), which causes difficulty swallowing, were studied to understand its causes and outcomes. Many of these dogs had acquired ME, often linked to a condition called myasthenia gravis, which affects muscle control. Unfortunately, nearly half of the dogs with acquired ME either died or were euthanized due to the condition, while about 20% continued to show symptoms. However, dogs diagnosed with myasthenia gravis had a better chance of improvement. This highlights the importance of thorough testing to identify any underlying issues that could help guide treatment and improve outcomes.
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Abstract
Knowledge regarding the etiology and prognosis for canine megaesophagus (ME) is currently limited to small case series that may now be out of date in light of recent advances in the understanding of neurological syndromes and the availability of advanced diagnostic testing. Ninety-nine dogs diagnosed with nonstructural ME were included. Congenital idiopathic ME was present in 10 cases, with complete resolution of clinical signs in a single case. Eighty-nine cases were considered acquired, with most cases being either idiopathic (42.7%) or associated with myasthenia gravis (38.2%). Idiopathic cases represented a smaller percentage of acquired ME than previously reported. Death or euthanasia directly related to ME occurred in almost 50% of acquired cases, whereas clinical signs persisted in ∼20% of cases and resolved in 30% of cases. A diagnosis of an underlying etiology, in particular myasthenia gravis, was associated with a better outcome in acquired ME. ME continues to be a challenging condition to manage, with a guarded-to-poor prognosis, particularly when an underlying etiology is not identified. Thorough diagnostic testing for an underlying neurological disorder is important in cases with ME as this may allow institution of appropriate treatment and the potential for a better prognosis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31715113/