Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Myelin protein levels in dog spinal fluid predict recovery after disk
By Levine, G J et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2010·Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Cerebrospinal fluid myelin basic protein as a prognostic biomarker in dogs with thoracolumbar intervertebral disk herniation.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with back problems caused by intervertebral disk herniation (IVDH) had their cerebrospinal fluid tested for a protein called myelin basic protein (MBP). The study found that dogs who did not regain the ability to walk after treatment had higher levels of MBP in their fluid compared to healthy dogs. Specifically, dogs with MBP levels over 3 ng/mL were less likely to walk again after three months. This suggests that measuring MBP could help veterinarians predict recovery outcomes in dogs with this condition.
People also search for: dog back problems · intervertebral disk herniation treatment · dog unable to walk recovery · cerebrospinal fluid test for dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Release of myelin basic protein (MBP) into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is associated with active demyelination and correlates with outcome in various neurological diseases. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To describe associations among CSF MBP concentration, initial neurological dysfunction, and long-term ambulatory outcome in dogs with acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disk herniation (IVDH). ANIMALS: Fifty seven [corrected] dogs with acute thoracolumbar IVDH and 16 clinically normal dogs. METHODS: Prospective case series clinical study. Signalment, initial neurological dysfunction as determined by a modified Frankel score (MFS), and ambulatory outcome at >3-month follow-up were recorded. Cisternal CSF MBP concentration was determined by an ELISA. Associations were estimated between CSF MBP concentration and various clinical parameters. RESULTS: Dogs with thoracolumbar IVDH that did not ambulate at follow-up had a higher CSF MBP concentration (median, 3.56 ng/mL; range, 0.59-51.2 ng/mL) compared with control dogs (median, 2.22 ng/mL; range, 0-3.82 ng/mL) (P=.032). A CSF MBP concentration of >or=3 ng/mL had a sensitivity of 78% and specificity of 76% to predict an unsuccessful outcome based on receiver-operating characteristics curve analysis (area under the curve=0.688, P=.079). Affected dogs with a CSF MBP concentration>or=3 ng/mL had 0.09 times the odds of ambulation at follow-up compared with affected dogs with CSF MBP concentration<3 ng/mL when adjusted for initial MFS (95% confidence interval 0.01-0.66, P=.018). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: These results would suggest that CSF MBP concentration may be useful as an independent prognostic indicator in dogs with thoracolumbar IVDH.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20492479/