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Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica logoLink to Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica
. 1989 Mar 1;30(1):89–102. doi: 10.1186/BF03548072

Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome in the Dog Breed Gammel Dansk Hønsehund: Clinical, Electrophysiological, Pharmacological and Immunological Comparison with Acquired Myasthenia gravis

Annette Flagstad 111,211,311,✉, Werner Trojaborg 111,211,311, Steen Gammeltoft 111,211,311
PMCID: PMC8142211  PMID: 2782236

Abstract

The effect of anticholinesterase drugs on the clinical and electrophysiological features in a canine congenital myasthenic syndrome is compared with findings in acquired myasthenia gravis in dogs. Anticholinesterase treatment had no effect on muscle weakness or electrophysiological parameters in the congenital myasthenic syndrome in contrast to its effect on clinical signs and electrophysiological parameters in acquired myasthenia gravis. The lack of effect of anticholinesterase in congenital myasthenia suggests a presynaptic defect as the aetiological factor. No antibodies to acetylcholine receptors were found in the Danish dog breed Gammel Dansk Hønsehund with the myasthenic syndrome. This classifies the disease in the group of canine and human congenital myasthenic diseases.

Keywords: myasthenic syndrome, canine myasthenia gravis, neuromuscular transmission defect

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Acknowledgements

This investigation was aided by grants from the Danish Agricultural and Veterinary Research Council (13-3259) and from the Leo Research Foundation.

The Neuromatic 2000 was granted by the Simon Spies Foundation.

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