Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Weakness and muscle problems in cats with myasthenia gravis
By Joseph, R J et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·1988·Department of Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Myasthenia gravis in the cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of four cats was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, a condition that causes muscle weakness. Their owners noticed symptoms like weakness, changes in their voice, and difficulty swallowing. A test with edrophonium chloride showed temporary improvement in all cats, confirming the diagnosis. They were treated with pyridostigmine bromide, which helped one cat remain symptom-free for two months, while another with congenital myasthenia gravis has lived for three years since diagnosis. Unfortunately, two cats with the acquired form had to be euthanized due to worsening health.
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Abstract
Myasthenia gravis (MG) was diagnosed in four cats--one had an apparently congenital form and three had the acquired autoimmune form. All four cats were examined because of episodes of weakness including gait abnormalities, voice change, neck ventroflexion, and regurgitation. Palpebral reflexes were absent in all cats. Administration of edrophonium chloride resulted in transient resolution of clinical signs in all four cats. Three cats were tested for the presence of serum autoantibodies against acetylcholine receptor (AChR) by radioimmunoassay. Two cats with acquired MG had anti-AChR antibody titers of 10.5 and 96.8 nmol/l (normal, less than or equal to 0.03 nmol/l). Antibodies were not detected in the cat with presumptive congenital MG. All four cats were treated with pyridostigmine bromide. Two cats with acquired MG were euthanatized because of clinical deterioration. The third cat with acquired MG has been asymptomatic since 2 months after diagnosis. The cat with presumed congenital MG is alive 3 years after diagnosis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3221361/