title: Treatment of acquired myasthenia gravis associated with thymoma in two dogs.
abstract: Two cases of myasthenia gravis associated with thymoma are reported. Both were female German shepherd dogs and the thymoma was surgically resected. Aspiration pneumonia secondary to persistent megaoesophagus was a complication in both cases. The myasthenia gravis did not resolve, but there was a more satisfactory control of clinical signs with anticholinesterase treatment. Corticosteroid therapy was used in one case, but the resulting polydipsia increased the incidence of regurgitation, resulting in recurrent episodes of aspiration pneumonia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, Hertfordshire.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rusbridge
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Elwood
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wheeler
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D013945:Thymoma / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors