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Acquired myasthenia gravis associated with a non‐invasive thymic carcinoma in a dog
Author(s) -
STENNER VJ,
PARRY BW,
HOLLOWAY SA
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
australian veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1751-0813
pISSN - 0005-0423
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2003.tb12883.x
Subject(s) - myasthenia gravis , thymic carcinoma , carcinoma , medicine , thymoma , pathology , immunology
An 8½‐year‐old neutered male Beagle was diagnosed with acquired myasthenia gravis associated with a non‐invasive thymic carcinoma. The thymic mass was surgically excised and the dog was treated with pyridostigmine, prednisolone and azathioprine. Serial acetylcholine receptor antibody titres were increased initially but slowly declined to normal values over a period of 24 weeks. Improved exercise tolerance was seen following therapy, however, oesophageal dysfunction persisted. The dog was euthanased 26 weeks after initial presentation due to a complicating illness. A necropsy showed no regrowth or metastasis of the thymic carcinoma.