Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy – a review

Polysaccharid-Speicher-Myopathie – eine Übersicht

Schumann U, van den Hoven R

DOI: 10.21836/PEM20140403
Year: 2014
Volume: 30
Issue: 4
Pages: 394-396

Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM) has recently been found in the Noriker and Haflinger breed and it has been documented for about 35 other horse breeds. The different prevalence rates are such that the disease is of high practical relevance. In this overview the important aspects of the disease itself, diagnosis and management are briefly summarized. A great help in the diagnosis of PSSM type 1 is the gene test for GYS-1 mutation. However, PSSM type 2 can only be diagnosed by histology of muscle biopsies. The management of both forms is mainly by carbohydrate-poor and fat-rich diets and providing regular and sufficient exercise.