Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Signs and recovery of acquired myasthenia gravis in 94 dogs
By Forgash, Jennifer T et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2021·Department of Clinical Sciences & Advanced Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Clinical features and outcome of acquired myasthenia gravis in 94 dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old Labrador was diagnosed with acquired myasthenia gravis (MG), a condition that affects muscle control, and showed symptoms like weakness and regurgitation. The dog was treated with an anticholinesterase medication, which helped many dogs in the study, and some also received immune-modulating drugs. While about 31% of the dogs achieved clinical remission after treatment, younger dogs and those without severe symptoms had better chances of recovery. Unfortunately, older dogs and those with high antibody levels or regurgitation had a poorer prognosis.
People also search for: dog myasthenia gravis symptoms · treatment for dog regurgitation · dog weakness and muscle control issues
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Factors known to be associated with outcome of acquired myasthenia gravis (MG) in dogs are limited. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Of dogs with MG, advancing age and comorbid neoplasia are associated with poor long-term prognosis and low rates of remission. ANIMALS: Ninety-four client-owned dogs with MG diagnosed by acetylcholine receptor antibody (AChR Ab) assay between 2001 and 2019 from a university clinic and 3 private clinics in the United States. METHODS: Cases were retrospectively evaluated and data were collected to determine clinical signs, treatment, and response to therapy defined by means of a clinical scoring rubric. Immunological remission was defined as a return of the AChR Ab concentration to <0.6 nmol/L. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify clinical criteria predicting remission. RESULTS: An anticholinesterase drug was used to treat 90/94 (96%) dogs, which in 63/94 (67%) was the sole treatment; other drugs included immune modulators. Clinical remission (lack of clinical signs ≥4 weeks after treatment cessation) was observed in 29 (31% [95% confidence interval (CI): 22.4-40.8%]) dogs, clinical response (lack of clinical signs on treatment) in 14 (15% [95% CI: 9.0-23.6%]) dogs, clinical improvement (on treatment) in 24 (26% [95% CI: 17.8-35.2%]) dogs, and no clinical improvement in 27 (29% [95% CI: 20.5-38.6%]) dogs. Immunological remission was observed in 27/46 (59%) dogs, with clinical remission in all 27. Younger age (P = .04) and comorbid endocrine disease (P = .04) were associated with clinical remission. Initial AChR Ab concentration (P = .02) and regurgitation (P = .04) were negatively associated with clinical remission. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Clinical remission in MG is less likely in older dogs and dogs presenting with regurgitation or high initial AChR Ab concentration, but more likely in younger dogs and dogs with comorbid endocrine disease.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34331481/