E-ISSN 2218-6050 | ISSN 2226-4485
 

Case Report


Acquired myasthenia gravis with concurrent polymyositis and myocarditis secondary to a thymoma in a dog

Raffaella Perillo, Marika Menchetti, Pasquale Giannuzzi, Angela Marchiori, Marco Rondena, Stefania Gasparini.


Cited By:2

Abstract
Background: Canine thymomas are associated with multiple paraneoplastic syndromes, among which myasthenia gravis is the most common. Acquired myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of antibodies against acetylcholine receptors. Acetylcholine receptors antibodies are the most commonly formed, but the production of antistriational antibodies binding to skeletal and cardiac muscle proteins has also been recorded both in humans and dogs. An association between the occurrence of antistriational antibodies and a severe form of myocarditis, giant cell myocarditis, has been described in humans.
Case description: A 4-year-old mixed-breed dog was referred because of one month history of exercise-induced weakness, hypersalivation and regurgitation. The neurologic examination was indicative of a neuromuscular junction disease and myasthenia gravis was suspected. A Computed Tomographic scan examination showed the presence of megaoesophagus and a thymic mass. Serum antibodies against acetylcholine receptors confirmed the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis. Treatment with pyridostigmine was started and the thymic mass was surgically excised and a diagnosis of thymoma was confirmed by histology. 24 hours after surgery the dog developed a third-degree atrioventricular block. Severe arrhythmia and increased troponin serum levels suggested myocarditis which rapidly led to cardiopulmonary arrest. Histopathologic examination of heart, esophagus and diaphragm revealed a lymphocytic and macrophagic infiltration, consistent with myocarditis and polymyositis. Scattered rare giant multinucleated cells were also detected in the myocardium.
Conclusions: To the author’s knowledge this is the first report of thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis with concurrent polymyositis and giant cell-like myocarditis in a dog.

Key words: dog, myasthenia gravis, myocarditis, polymyositis, thymoma


 
ARTICLE TOOLS
Abstract
PDF Fulltext
HTML Fulltext
How to cite this articleHow to cite this article
Citation Tools
Related Records
 Articles by Raffaella Perillo
Articles by Marika Menchetti
Articles by Pasquale Giannuzzi
Articles by Angela Marchiori
Articles by Marco Rondena
Articles by Stefania Gasparini
on Google
on Google Scholar


How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Perillo R, Menchetti M, Giannuzzi P, Marchiori A, Rondena M, Gasparini S. Acquired myasthenia gravis with concurrent polymyositis and myocarditis secondary to a thymoma in a dog. Open Vet J. 2021; 11(3): 436-440. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2021.v11.i3.16


Web Style

Perillo R, Menchetti M, Giannuzzi P, Marchiori A, Rondena M, Gasparini S. Acquired myasthenia gravis with concurrent polymyositis and myocarditis secondary to a thymoma in a dog. https://www.openveterinaryjournal.com/?mno=72604 [Access: March 13, 2024]. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2021.v11.i3.16


AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Perillo R, Menchetti M, Giannuzzi P, Marchiori A, Rondena M, Gasparini S. Acquired myasthenia gravis with concurrent polymyositis and myocarditis secondary to a thymoma in a dog. Open Vet J. 2021; 11(3): 436-440. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2021.v11.i3.16



Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Perillo R, Menchetti M, Giannuzzi P, Marchiori A, Rondena M, Gasparini S. Acquired myasthenia gravis with concurrent polymyositis and myocarditis secondary to a thymoma in a dog. Open Vet J. (2021), [cited March 13, 2024]; 11(3): 436-440. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2021.v11.i3.16



Harvard Style

Perillo, R., Menchetti, . M., Giannuzzi, . P., Marchiori, . A., Rondena, . M. & Gasparini, . S. (2021) Acquired myasthenia gravis with concurrent polymyositis and myocarditis secondary to a thymoma in a dog. Open Vet J, 11 (3), 436-440. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2021.v11.i3.16



Turabian Style

Perillo, Raffaella, Marika Menchetti, Pasquale Giannuzzi, Angela Marchiori, Marco Rondena, and Stefania Gasparini. 2021. Acquired myasthenia gravis with concurrent polymyositis and myocarditis secondary to a thymoma in a dog. Open Veterinary Journal, 11 (3), 436-440. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2021.v11.i3.16



Chicago Style

Perillo, Raffaella, Marika Menchetti, Pasquale Giannuzzi, Angela Marchiori, Marco Rondena, and Stefania Gasparini. "Acquired myasthenia gravis with concurrent polymyositis and myocarditis secondary to a thymoma in a dog." Open Veterinary Journal 11 (2021), 436-440. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2021.v11.i3.16



MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Perillo, Raffaella, Marika Menchetti, Pasquale Giannuzzi, Angela Marchiori, Marco Rondena, and Stefania Gasparini. "Acquired myasthenia gravis with concurrent polymyositis and myocarditis secondary to a thymoma in a dog." Open Veterinary Journal 11.3 (2021), 436-440. Print. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2021.v11.i3.16



APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Perillo, R., Menchetti, . M., Giannuzzi, . P., Marchiori, . A., Rondena, . M. & Gasparini, . S. (2021) Acquired myasthenia gravis with concurrent polymyositis and myocarditis secondary to a thymoma in a dog. Open Veterinary Journal, 11 (3), 436-440. doi:10.5455/OVJ.2021.v11.i3.16