title: Atraumatic rupture of the gastrocnemius muscle after corticosteroid administration in a dog.
abstract: A 6-year-old spayed female Shetland Sheepdog was referred for evaluation of lameness, muscle atrophy, and a partial plantigrade stance of the right hind limb of 5 weeks' duration. Without history of trauma, atraumatic rupture of the right gastrocnemius muscle was diagnosed. Surgical repair was unsuccessful. The dog then developed signs of hyperadrenocorticism. Results of ACTH stimulation and low-dose dexamethasone suppression tests were consistent with iatrogenic adrenal suppression. One deleterious effect of excessive use of corticosteroids on muscle and connective tissue is degenerative myopathy. Steroid-induced myopathy with subsequent rupture of the gastrocnemius muscle was suspected in this dog. Clinical signs of myopathy most often develop with use of triamcinolone acetonide; therefore, care should be taken when administering this and other corticosteroids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211, USA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rewerts
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Grooters
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Kornegay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs; D004576:Electromyography / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous / Q000662:veterinary; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide; D006854:Hydrocortisone