Central nervous system blood vessel problems in dogs

Abstract

This retrospective study aims to describe the vascular events in the central nervous system (CNS) associated with the acute form of steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis (SRMA), to compare the clinical features of dogs with and without such complications and to potentially identify predisposing factors for these events. Dogs with a presumptive diagnosis of SRMA visited between 2018 and 2023 with full medical records that underwent neurological examination, blood testing, cervical computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis were included. Thirty-three dogs were included and divided in two groups. Group 1 included 7 (21,2 %) dogs with vascular complications secondary to SRMA (spinal cord ischemic and/or hemorrhagic infarcts, spinal cord subdural hematomas, intracranial subarachnoid hemorrhages), and group 2 included 26 (78,8 %) dogs with non-complicated SRMA. Age, breed, sex, presence of neurological deficits, CSF abnormalities and presence of relapses were factors evaluated for potential association with vascular complications of SRMA. Six dogs in group 1 were Golden Retrievers (85,7 %), and there was a significant association between this breed and the occurrence of vascular complications (P = 0.017). Presence of neurological deficits (P = 0.001) and xanthochromic CSF (P = 0.001) were also associated with vascular complications in dogs with SRMA. Hemorrhagic or ischemic lesions in the CNS can be a complication of the acute form of SRMA, and Golden Retrievers appear to be more affected. Dogs with vascular complications show often neurological deficits and CSF xanthochromia.