Tarsal Joint Contracture in Dogs With Golden Retriever Muscular Dystrophy

摘要

Golden Retriever muscular dystrophy (GRMD) is a sex-linked myopathy similar to human Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Both diseases cause debilitation through progressive muscular weakness and joint contracture. The association of tarsal joint anglewith clinical severity of GRMD was investigated to explore the use of joint angle as an objective tool for evaluating GRMD phenotype. Thirteen GRMD-af-fected dogs and 11 normal littermates were chosen from a breeding colony of dogs with GRMD. The flexor surface, non-weight-bearing tarsal joint angle was determined in each animal at 3 and 6 months of age in 7 GRMD-affected dogs and 5 normal dogs and at only one of these time points in the remaining animals.