Emergent Presentation of a Cat with Dystrophin-Deficient Muscular Dystrophy

Abstract

This report describes a case of feline dystrophin-deficient muscular dystrophy (DDMD) with an atypical clinical presentation. A novel gene mutation is reported to be responsible for dystrophin-deficient hypertrophic muscular dystrophy. In an emergency setting, clinicians should be aware of muscular dystrophy in young cats and the importance of elevated creatine kinase (CK) activity. Muscular dystrophy is rare but can present both a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in an emergency setting. Patients with muscular dystrophy have a progressive disease with no specific treatment and have an increased risk for death during their hospital stay.