Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cerebrospinal fluid lactate levels in dogs with brain inflammation
By Mariani, Christopher L et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2019·College of Veterinary Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Cerebrospinal fluid lactate in dogs with inflammatory central nervous system disorders.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 102 dogs with inflammatory central nervous system (CNS) disorders had their cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tested for lactate levels, which can indicate inflammation. In nearly half of the dogs, the lactate levels were higher than normal, suggesting inflammation in the CNS. While the study found some weak links between lactate levels and other indicators of inflammation, it did not find a direct connection between lactate levels and survival rates. This research suggests that measuring CSF lactate could help veterinarians quickly assess inflammatory CNS diseases in dogs.
People also search for: dog neurological symptoms · dog cerebrospinal fluid test · high lactate levels in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lactate is frequently used as a biomarker in humans with inflammatory central nervous system (CNS) disorders including bacterial meningitis and autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis. HYPOTHESIS: Cerebrospinal fluid lactate concentrations are increased in a subset of dogs with inflammatory CNS disorders. ANIMALS: One hundred two client-owned dogs diagnosed with inflammatory CNS disease. METHODS: Case series. Cases were identified both prospectively at the time of diagnosis and retrospectively by review of a CSF biorepository. Cerebrospinal fluid lactate was analyzed with a commercially available, handheld lactate monitor. Subcategories of inflammatory disease were created for comparison (eg, steroid-responsive meningitis arteritis, meningoencephalitis of unknown etiology). RESULTS: Cerebrospinal fluid lactate concentrations were above reference range in 47% of dogs (median, 2.5 mmol/L; range, 1.0-11.7 mmol/L). There was no significant difference in lactate concentrations between disease subcategories (P = .48). Significant but weak correlations were noted between CSF lactate concentration and nucleated cell count (r = .33, P < .001), absolute large mononuclear cell count (r = .44, P < .001), absolute small mononuclear cell count (r = .39, P < .001), absolute neutrophil cell count (r = .24, P = .01), and protein (r = .44, P < .001). No correlation was found between CSF lactate concentration and CSF red blood cell count (P = .58). There was no significant association of CSF lactate concentration with survival (P = .27). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Cerebrospinal fluid lactate concentrations could serve as a rapid biomarker of inflammatory CNS disease in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31549740/