Calcium Phosphate Deposition Disease in Great Danes

Abstract

Abstract.A new clinicopathologic syndrome, possibly familial, in Great Dane dogs, resembles the familial childhood variant of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposit disease in man, except that the mineral deposits were composed of amorphous calcium phosphate or hydroxyapatite rather than pyrophosphate. The syndrome was characterized clinically by paraplegia and incoordination in very young puppies which was caused by concentric constriction of the posterior cervical spinal cord. Canal stenosis resulted from dorsal displacement of the seventh cervical vertebra and deformation of the vertebral articular processes. Mineral deposition in the diarthrodial joints of the axial skeleton could be seen on radiographs of weanling puppies, and the appendicular skeleton became involved as the dogs matured. Periarticular mineralization of the limbs was associated with shorter bones, a thin cortex, abnormal bone curvature, and increased medullary trabeculae. Bone alterations were associated with abnormalities of the growth plate, which had focal areas of cartilage calcification. Soft tissue mineralization, seen in all dogs, was a primary feature of the disease process. Serum calcium concentrations were within the normal range, but serum phosphorus concentrations were decreased.Crystal deposition disease is a current term for various types of crystal-induced synovitis. Gout was the first condition identified in which acute synovitis was associated with urate crystals in the synovial fluid. In calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease, the second form of the disease to be described, acute joint inflammation was associated with crystals of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate rather than urates.

Calcinosis Circumscripta in the Dog: A Retrospective Pathological Study

“…In the present study, two German Shepherd dogs each had approximately 3 cm diameter masses on right side of cervical vertebrate (C3–C4) without any underlying disease. A syndrome of calcium phosphate or hydroxylapatite deposition has been reported in young puppies of some breeds, especially Great Danes (Woodard et al., 1982; Marks et al., 1991; Palmer, 1993; Short and Jardine, 1993; Wunschmann et al., 2000). These cases showed signs of paraplegia, incoordination, pathologic spondylolisthesis and mineral deposition within vertebral canal and seem distinct from the paravertebral lesions seen in this study.…”

“…These cases showed signs of paraplegia, incoordination, pathologic spondylolisthesis and mineral deposition within vertebral canal and seem distinct from the paravertebral lesions seen in this study. The early onset of disease and equal sex distribution suggested a congenital or hereditary malformation (Flo and Tvedten, 1975; Woodard et al., 1982; Palmer, 1993; Wunschmann et al., 2000). A hereditary form of the human disease, characterized by early onset and higher familial incidence has been reported to be linked to a point mutation in the type II protocollagen gene (Basualo et al., 1993).…”

Calcium Hydroxylapatite Deposition Disease in a Great Dane Puppy

“…12 Here, we present a case of calcium hydroxylapatite deposition disease in a Great Dane puppy that was limited to the axial skeleton and included marked fibrocartilaginous proliferation, resulting in compression of the spinal cord.…”

“…This lack of obvious damage may be due to the early state of the disease at euthanasia, as in previous reports of calcium phosphate deposition disease in Great Danes; skeletal alterations, including deformation of vertebral articular processes, displacement of vertebrae, calcifications of growth plate cartilage, and collapse of vertebrae, were present only in older pups. 12 However, these findings may also suggest that the skeletal alterations were secondary to hydroxylapaptiteinduced articular lesions.…”

“…The occurrence and equal sex distribution of calcium hydroxylapatite deposition disease in two Great Dane litters with common parents in a previous study suggested an autosomal dominant inheritance. 12 Unfortunately, detailed information regarding the siblings of this affected puppy was not available. The owner of one sibling reported the pup to be normal.…”