the treatment of severe generalized myasthenia gravis in three dogs Amanda L. Abelson, DVM; G. Diane Shelton, DVM, PhD; Megan F. Whelan, DVM, DACVECC; Lilian Cornejo, DVM, DACVIM; Scott Shaw, DVM, DACVECC and Therese E. OToole, DVM, DACVIM Abstract Objective To describe the use of IVand oral mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) as adjunctive therapy in 3 dogs with severe generalized myasthenia gravis. Case Series Summary Three dogs suffering from severe generalized myasthenia gravis as conrmed by acetylcholine antibody titers were treated with MMF as part of their treatment regimens. All 3 dogs had radiographic evidence of megaesophagus and suffered from severe regurgitation. Each dog was initially treated with pyridostigmine and supportive agents. When clinical remission was not achieved, IV MMF was administered to all dogs. Signs of clinical remission were apparent within 48 hours and all dogs were later maintained on oral MMF following resolution of regurgitation. New or Unique Information Provided This is the rst report of the use of IV MMF as adjunctive treatment in dogs with severe generalized myasthenia gravis. Outcome was favorable in all 3 dogs and no adverse effects were noted from the MMF. (J Vet Emerg Crit Care 2009; 19(4): 369374) doi: 10.1111/j.1476-4431.2009.00433.x Keywords: acetylcholine receptor antibody, immunosuppressive agents, megaesophagus, neuromuscular disease, purine analog Introduction Acquired myasthenia gravis (MG) is an immune- mediated neuromuscular disorder causing muscle weakness and fatigue resulting from autoantibody-me- diated destruction of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) on the postsynaptic membrane of the neuromuscular junction. Clinical signs of MG can be classied into 4 major groups, those with only focal clinical signs in the absence of generalized weakness, mild cases with a progressive generalized weakness in the absence of megaesophagus, those with a more severe form of acute generalized weakness and megaesophagus, or as a para- neoplastic syndrome associated with thymoma. 14 Focal clinical signs including weakness of the facial, laryn- geal, esophageal, or pharyngeal muscles in the absence of generalized weakness occur in up to 43% of dogs with MG. 5 Generalized forms can be mild without megaesophagus or rapidly progress to recumbency and respiratory distress in acute fulminating MG. 6 Gener- alized forms are distinguished from each other by the presence or absence of megaesophagus, the rate at which weakness progresses and the presence or ab- sence of thymoma. Megaesophagus occurs in up to 90% of the cases of generalized MG. 5 Aspiration pneumonia resulting from persistent regurgitation can further ex- acerbate weakness. In these severe cases, intensive management, sometimes including assisted mechanical ventilation, is required to provide adequate support until treatment can achieve an improvement in strength and clinical remission. 7 Because the cost of this inten- This work was conducted in entirety at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. This study was not supported by any funding agency. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Therese E. OToole, Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, 200 Westboro Rd, North Grafton, MA 01356, USA. Email: theresa.otoole@tufts.edu From the Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA 01356 (Abelson, Cornejo, Shaw, OToole); Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 9037 (Shelton); Department of Emergency and Critical Care, Angell Animal Medical Center, Boston, MA 02130 (Whelan). Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care 19(4) 2009, pp 369374 doi:10.1111/j.1476-4431.2009.00433.x & Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2009 369 sive management can be prohibitive to many owners, the availability of effective, efcient, and affordable treatment protocols are essential. Additionally, the prognosis for survival to discharge for this population of severely affected dogs is guarded to poor, despite hospitalization and critical care management. 2,6 The presence of autoantibodies against muscle AChRs is diagnostic of MG. 8 Anticholinesterase (AChE) drugs inhibit the enzymatic hydrolysis of acetylcholine allow- ing for its prolonged interaction with available AChRs. The effectiveness of these agents, however, relies on the availability of AChRs, which are reduced in MG by the binding of autoantibodies and subsequent receptor loss on the postsynaptic membrane. Although MG is an auto- immune disease, the natural course of the disease is for spontaneous remission in the absence of immunosup- pression. 9 However, in severe cases of MG that do not respond to AChE treatment alone, immunosuppressive agents should be considered. Although there are no controlled clinical studies that compare their usage, immunosuppressive agents includ- ing corticosteroids, azathioprine (AZA), and cyclosporine have all been used in the treatment of canine MG. 2,10,11 Prednisone, however, has been associated with increased muscle weakness and can exacerbate clinical signs, and AZA and cyclosporine may require several days of ad- ministration to reach effective blood levels. 10,12,13 To pro- vide successful rescue from severe generalized or acute fulminating MG, or MG that has failed to adequately respond to conventional treatments, a drug must provide an immediate effect, be relatively free of complications, and be available for veterinary use. A parenteral formu- lation would be advantageous for patients with severe regurgitation. Human intravenous immunoglobulin (hIVIG) and plasmapheresis are used in human patients for therapy of fulminant MG, but these treatments have either limited availability or are cost-prohibitive in vet- erinary patients. 14,15 Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) inhibits nucleic acid synthesis in T- and B-cells and was introduced for use in human renal transplant patients about 25 years ago. Now widely used to prevent allograft renal transplant rejec- tion, 16 MMF is also used to prevent allograft rejection in other transplant patient populations. MMF has recently been used in the treatment of human immune-mediated diseases, including MG, systemic lupus erythematosus, Crohns disease, immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA), and immune-mediated thrombocytopenia. 17 MMF has been described in the treatment of canine aplastic anemia, IMHA, and oral MMF has been reported for use in canines with MG. 1821 In this report we de- scribe the use of both parenteral and oral MMF in 3 dogs with severe generalized MG that presented to the emer- gency service at a veterinary teaching hospital. Case 1 An 8-year-old spayed female Labrador Retriever was referred for evaluation following 4 days of regurgita- tion and progressive generalized weakness. A dilated esophagus and a soft tissue opacity in the cranial me- diastinum were apparent on thoracic radiographs. Ab- normalities on CBC and serum chemistry included mild monocytosis (1.75 10 9 /L; reference interval, 0.11.5 10 9 /L), slight hypercalcemia (2.92 mmol/L [11.7 mg/dL]; reference interval, 2.352.90 mmol/L [9.411.6 mg/dL]), increased aspartate aminotrans- ferase (169 U/L; reference interval, 1654 U/L), and increased creatine kinase (637 U/L; reference interval, 48400 U/L). Total thyroxine, free thyroxine, and thy- roid stimulating hormone were all normal. Pyridostig- mine a (1.4 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h) was started shortly after admission. Other treatments included famotidine b (0.5 mg/kg, IV, q 12 h), and IV uids (lactated Ringers solution c [LRS], 90 mL/kg/d). Thoracic computed tomographic examination conrmed a cranial media- stinal mass. Serum AChR antibody titer d was increased (6.55 nmol/L; reference limits, o0.6 nmol/L). With minimal improvement, a single dose of hIVIG e (0.5 g/kg, IV, over 6 h) was administered. The dog im- proved over the following 48 hours and was walking. A presumed aspiration event, however, prompted emer- gent intubation and assisted ventilation. The precipi- tating cause of the event was not entirely determined, but suspected airway obstruction due to aspiration of stomach contents (kibble) was considered likely. Extu- bation was accomplished the following day, and imipenem f (6 mg/kg, IV, q 8 h) was added for hospi- tal-acquired aspiration pneumonia. Improved, the dog underwent a median sternotomy the following week. The cranial mediastinal mass was removed in its en- tirety, and thymoma with complete resection was con- rmed on histopathology. Recovery from surgery was uneventful but by the fth postoperative day regurgi- tation and weakness returned. In addition to pyridostigmine (1.5 mg/kg, PO, q 8 h) a second infu- sion of hIVIG was administered. Within 4 days the dogs weakness and regurgitation again resolved. On the 24th day of hospitalization the dog was nally dis- charged on pyridostigmine (1.5 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h). A postoperative AChR antibody titer was 4.02 nmol/L. The dog initially did well but returned to the hospital 12 days following discharge for relapse of muscle weakness. A third infusion of hIVIG was given but this time the dog developed erythema and anxiety, prompt- ing discontinuation before its completion. The dog, however, responded again, was stronger, and was dis- charged with the addition of AZA g (2 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h). Although strong on discharge the dog returned & Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2009, doi: 10.1111/j.1476-4431.2009.00433.x 370 A.L. Abelson et al. again 5 days following this for rapidly progressive weakness and regurgitation. Pyridostigmine (0.02 mg/ kg/h, IV) was reinstituted and a fourth infusion of hI- VIG was attempted due to the rapid deterioration in muscle strength and fear of an aspiration event. Within minutes of starting the hIVIG the dog developed re- spiratory distress, tachycardia, and diffuse erythema. The hIVIG was discontinued, and the dog was treated for anaphylaxis. Over the next 2 days, the dog required intubation and continuous monitoring by a dedicated clinician or technician. Multiple attempts to extubate the dog were unsuccessful, and the dog suffered several respiratory arrests. An infusion of methylprednisolone sodium succinate h (20 mg/kg, over 30 min) was ad- ministered, but the dog did not respond and weakness was so profound that the dog could not blink, move its head, or negotiate the tongue to clear the mouth. The oral cavity and esophagus required repeated suction- ing, and if extubated the dog would aspirate into the trachea requiring emergent suctioning. With failure to respond to IV pyridostigmine or glucocorticoids, and the analphylactic reaction to hIVIG, an infusion of MMF i was prepared (15 mg/kg, diluted in 500 mL of 0.45% saline and 2.5% dextrose) and given over 4 hours. The dog improved within 24 hours and a second MMF infusion was given the following day. With decreased salivation and regurgitation, the dog was then able to receive MMF orally (11 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h). With con- tinued improvement, the dog was discharged 1 week later on pyridostigmine (1.5 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h) and continuation of MMF. Pyridostigmine was discontin- ued 1 week later due to gastrointestinal upset and the dog was maintained on MMF with a gradual decrease in the dose (7 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h). One year later the dog was reported to be doing well. AChR antibody titers at this time were 1.58 nmol/L, demonstrating that while the dog is clinically normal, she is not in remission. Case 2 A 7-year-old castrated male Golden Retriever was referred for 1 week of regurgitation and generalized weakness. Neurological examination revealed de- creased withdrawal reexes and generalized weakness. The dog was hypersalivating and was mildly tachy- pneic at 50/min. The remainder of the physical exam- ination was within normal limits. CBC and serum chemistry abnormalities included slightly decreased platelets (159 10 9 /L; reference interval, 181 525 10 9 /L), mild hypernatremia (162 mmol/L; refer- ence interval, 142158 mmol/L), increased serum aspartate aminotransferase (168 U/L), and increased serum creatine kinase (1166 U/L). A gas distended esophagus was apparent on thoracic radiographs. A positive response to edrophonium chloride j (0.1 mg/kg, IV) provided a presumptive diagnosis of MG. Pyrid- ostigmine in a constant rate infusion (CRI) was started at 0.01 mg/kg/h and was gradually increased to 0.025 mg/kg/h. Other treatments included metoclo- pramide k CRI (1 mg/kg/d, IV), dolasetron l (1 mg/kg, IV, q 24 h), and IV uids (LRS at 60 mL/kg/d). En- rooxacin m (10 mg/kg, IV, q 24 h) and clindamycin n (10 mg/kg, IV, q 12 h) were also started because of con- cerns that early aspiration pneumonia was present. Thoracic computed tomographic and abdominal ultra- sonographic examinations identied no underlying masses. Serum-free thyroxine and thyroid stimulating hormone were normal. A serum AChR antibody titer was elevated (10.77 nmol/L). By day 3 of hospitaliza- tion the dog had less regurgitation, allowing the pyridostigmine to be given orally (1 mg/kg, PO, q 8 h); however, the dog showed little improvement in ability to stand or ambulate. A CRI of MMF was given (16 mg/kg, over 2 h). Within 24 hours strength was markedly improved, the dog was walking without ab- normality, and there was no regurgitation. MMF (10 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h) was continued and the dog was discharged after 1 week of hospitalization on MMF, pyridostigmine (1 mg/kg, PO, q 8 h), and enrooxacin (9 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h). Follow-up AChR antibody titer 9 months after discharge was 0.41 nmol/L and the dog was asymptomatic for MG. Following this, the owners administered MMF sporadically (estimated 10 mg/kg, every third day), and after 3 months of this dosing the AChR antibody titer was 0.59 nmol/L. Case 3 A 9-year-old castrated male Golden Retriever was re- ferred for 2 weeks of regurgitation. The dog had pelvic limb weakness but was ambulatory. Referring CBC and serum chemistry prole were unremarkable. Mega- esophagus and an alveolar pattern consistent with aspiration pneumonia were apparent on thoracic ra- diographs. A strongly positive response was observed when given edrophonium chloride. The dog was started on neostigmine o (0.04 mg/kg, IM, q 6 h). Cyto- logic evaluation of a transtracheal wash conrmed sep- tic inammation consistent with pneumonia, which was treated with ampicillin p (22 mg/kg, IV, q 8 h) and enrooxacin (10 mg/kg, IV, q 24 h). Other therapy in- cluded famotidine (0.5 mg/kg, IV, q 12 h), IV uids (LRS at 90 mL/kg/d), and suctioning of the esophagus via an indwelling nasoesophageal tube. q Free thyroxine and thyroid stimulating hormone assays and an adre- nocorticotropin stimulation test were normal. An AChR antibody titer was 1.9 nmol/L. Because of ileus 3 days & Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2009, doi: 10.1111/j.1476-4431.2009.00433.x 371 Mycophenolate mofetil in myasthenia gravis later, neostigmine was discontinued and pyridostig- mine CRI (0.01 mg/kg/h) was started and then later increased (0.02 mg/kg/h). An infusion of hIVIG (0.5 g/ kg, over 6 h) was given due to continued weakness. The dog gradually improved over the following week. Pyridostigmine was given orally (1.3 mg/kg, PO, q 8 h), and the dog was discharged on day 13 of hos- pitalization on continuation of pyridostigmine and an- tibiotics. With radiographic evidence of resolving pneumonia 3 weeks later, AZA (2.5 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h) was started, but the following day the dog was readmitted to the hospital for recurrent weakness, hypersalivation, and regurgitation. Pyridostigmine CRI was restarted and oral medications were discontinued. A preparation of MMF (20 mg/kg, diluted in 500 mL of 0.45% saline and 2.5% dextrose) was infused over 4 hours once daily for 3 consecutive days, and then con- tinued orally (10 mg/kg, q 12 h) starting on the fourth day when the dog demonstrated improvement in strength and regurgitation, along with oral pyridostig- mine the following day. The dog was discharged the next day with oral pyridostigmine, MMF, and AZA. Serial follow-up AChR antibody titers over the 6 months following discharge trended toward normal, and the AZA was tapered and discontinued. Two months later an AChR titer was 0.49 nmol/L. At that time MMF therapy was incrementally decreased (from 10 to 3.2 mg/kg, q 12 h). When the titer increased to 0.59 nmol/L following the dose reduction, the MMF dose was increased (6.5 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h). Discussion MMF is a synthesized prodrug of mycophenolic acid (MPA), a compound rst discovered in 1893 when it was isolated as a fermentation product from Penicillium brevicompactum. In 1990, MPA was esteried to a morpholinoethyl group creating MMF. 22 Actions of MMF include reduction of the proliferation of lympho- cytes, down-regulation of the expression of cell surface adhesion molecules, and a decrease in antibody pro- duction. 21 Specifically, MMF inhibits inosine-5 0 -mono- phosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH), an enzyme that limits the rate of de novo guanosine nucleotide synthe- sis. The lack of guanosine nucleotide impairs the ability of the cell to synthesize nuclear genetic material and halts transcription and translation within the cell. Two isoforms of IMPDH (types I and II) have been identied with MMF having a 5 times greater afnity for the type II isoform. The type II isoform is expressed in activated T- and B-cell lymphocytes, whereas the type I isoform is expressed in most cell types. 23 Specicity for T- and B-cells makes MMF an attrac- tive therapy for autoimmune diseases. Studies in hu- mans investigating the efcacy of MMF in MG have been inconclusive. Preliminary, small scale studies showed promise with the addition of MMF for poorly controlled MG. 24,25 Despite a positive response in 73% of cases reported in a retrospective study of 85 human patients with MG, 26 2 recent large, multicenter, double- blinded, prospective studies put into question the ef- cacy of MMF in the treatment of mild to moderate MG. 27,28 These studies compared the use of prednisone as a sole agent versus prednisone and MMF in the treatment of myasthenics with mild to moderate disease, and demonstrated that MMF provided no ben- et over the use of prednisone alone during an initial 12-week period of therapy. However, the studies ex- cluded patients in which MMF therapy may be most benecial, those with severe weakness that may be ex- acerbated by prednisone, and in patients where other treatment modalities had failed. Large, multicenter studies in these populations are still indicated. The wide range in degree of both severity of clinical signs and response to therapy can make the treatment of canine MG difcult. One study indicated that in the absence of thymoma, many dogs suffering from MG will go into spontaneous remission and simply require treatment with AChEs until the disease has taken its clinical course. 9 Other studies demonstrate that up to 60% of canine myasthenics will be euthanized within 1 year of diagnosis, usually as a result of aspiration pneumonia. 2 These studies, however, cannot be directly compared as high dosages of prednisone were given in the second study, which has subsequently been shown to exacerbate muscle weakness. To date no prospective, randomized trial proving ef- cacy of any 1 or combination of treatment regimens for MG in dogs has been performed. Various therapies have been anecdotally reported and advocated in the veterinary literature including AZA, cyclosporine, MMF, and prednisone. 1012,19 While prednisone is the mainstay of therapy for hu- man myasthenics, it may not be the best treatment for canine myasthenics. Aspiration pneumonia is a com- mon sequela to generalized MG in the dog but not in humans due to the fact that the canine esophagus is composed of entirely striated muscle, whereas in the human, only the proximal 26 cm of the esophagus is striated muscle with the remainder being smooth mus- cle. 29 Because of the aspiration pneumonia, dogs are more likely to suffer respiratory fatigue from a combi- nation of diseased lung as well as weakened respiratory muscles. Prednisone therapy may cause further muscle weakness and lead to respiratory distress. Cyclosporine and AZA have been advocated as im- munosuppressive therapies for canine MG. However, reports indicate that they can take several days to & Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2009, doi: 10.1111/j.1476-4431.2009.00433.x 372 A.L. Abelson et al. months to take effect. 9,11 hIVIG is reported in human myasthenics to have a rapid onset of action and has been reported for use in dogs with other immune- mediated diseases including IMHA, immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, and pemphigus foliaceous. 3033 Its use has not been previously reported in canine my- asthenics. Two dogs in this report received hIVIG. Al- though both dogs appeared to respond initially to hIVIG, clinical signs recurred in both, and, if remission had been achieved with hIVIG it was not lasting. Fur- thermore, efcacy of hIVIG in dogs with MG has not been proven in a clinical trial and, as evidenced by the reaction the dog in the rst case demonstrated upon receiving subsequent infusions, the use of repeated dosing of hIVIG in dogs may be risky, limiting it to a single dose. MMF is formulated for both IV and oral dosing, allowing it to be administered both in the acute setting and for long-term therapy. The 3 cases reported here suggest that MMF may have benet as an adjunctive agent in poorly controlled MG or as a rescue agent in severe generalized MG when AChEs fail to improve clinical signs. While the time frame from the start of therapy to the onset of clinical improvement is not known, it has been shown that following oral admin- istration, maximal inhibition of IMPDH occurs approx- imately 24 hours after dosing suggesting that it has a rapid onset of action. 34 Reported adverse effects of MMF in humans include gastrointestinal upset, increased susceptibility to infec- tion, teratogenic effects, increased risk of lymphoma, allergic reaction, headache, and neutropenia that occurs most often between days 31 and 180 following start of therapy. 35 In canine patients the most common adverse effects reported include weight loss, gastrointestinal upset, and mild allergic reactions during parenteral administration. 36,37 No adverse effects were noted in the cases reported here. Cases 1 and 3 had serial CBCs performed during the rst year of therapy and no ab- normalities were detected. Case 2 did not have a fol- low-up CBC. The lack of allergic reaction in these cases may be due to the fact that 2 dogs were receiving con- current immunosuppressive agents at the time of infu- sion. Gastrointestinal upset has been reported to occur primarily in doses equal to or 30 mg/kg. 36 The dose of MMF for dogs with MG has not been established. One study investigating the IV and oral pharmacokinetics of MMF in healthy dogs suggests that a higher dose, and a more frequent dosing sched- ule than used in this case series would be required. The study found that oral MMF at roughly 20 mg/kg pro- duced low plasma levels and a relatively short half-life of only 45 minutes. 35 However, this study did not ex- amine the biologic effects of MMF, and it may be that the effects outlast detectable plasma levels. A second study investigating oral doses (1030 mg/kg, twice daily) of MMF in dogs following stem cell transplan- tation found that there was no linear relationship be- tween dose of MMF and MPA blood levels. In addition, there was wide interpatient variability of MPA blood levels. The authors hypothesized that this was due to differences in enterohepatic recirculation between dogs. The authors suggested that MMF may need to be dosed more frequently and that dogs with intestinal impair- ment or receiving medications that impede enterohe- patic recirculation may require higher doses. 36 MMF is available in 250 and 500 mg capsules as well as 500 mg vials, and is infused over a period of not o2 hours. To the authors knowledge, this is the rst report of dogs suffering from severe generalized MG treated with IV MMF as a rescue agent. The dosages admin- istered to dogs in this report were extrapolated from an oral dose reported by Dewey et al 19 (520 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h). The dogs received differing IV doses because each received the entire reconstituted 500 mg vial. Based on these clinical results, it seems reasonable to advocate the use of MMF as a rescue agent for canine patients with severe generalized MG that is refractory to other treatment regimens. A prospective, random- ized-clinical trial is indicated to more denitively es- tablish the benet of MMF in MG treatment protocols. Footnotes a Mestonin, Sandoz, Broomeld, CO. b Famotidine Injection, Baxter Healthcare Corp, Deereld, IL. c Lactated Ringers solution, Baxter Healthcare Corp. d Comparative Neuromuscular Laboratory, Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, CA. e Gammagard, Baxter Healthcare Corp. f Primaxin IV, Merck and Co Inc, Whitehouse Station, NJ. g Azathioprine Tablet, Roxane Laboratories Inc, Columbus, OH. h Solu Medrol, Pzer Inc, New York, NY. i Cellcept, Roche Laboratories Inc, Nutley, NJ. j Enlon, Baxter Healthcare Corp. k Reglan Injection, Baxter Healthcare Corp. l Anzemet, Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc, Kansas City, MO. m Baytril Injection, Bayer Healthcare LLC, Shawnee Mission, KS. n Clindamycin Injection, Hospira Inc, Lake Forest, IL. o Neostigmine Methylsulfate Injection, Baxter Healthcare Corp. p Ampicillin Injection, Abraxis, Schaumburg, IL. q Kendall Argyle Feeding Tube, Tyco Health Care Group, Manseld, MA. References 1. 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A Comparison of Total Calcium, Corrected Calcium, and Ionized Calcium Concentrations As Indicators of Calcium Homeostasis Among Hypoalbuminemic Dogs Requiring Intensive Care
A Comparison of Total Calcium, Corrected Calcium, and Ionized Calcium Concentrations As Indicators of Calcium Homeostasis Among Hypoalbuminemic Dogs Requiring Intensive Care