Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis in North American dogs: breed
By Lau, Jeanie et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2019·Department of Clinical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Clinical characteristics, breed differences, and quality of life in North American dogs with acute steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 61 dogs, including breeds like Golden Retrievers and Wirehaired Pointing Griffons, were diagnosed with a condition called steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis (SRMA), which causes inflammation in the brain and spinal cord. Many of these dogs experienced relapses of their symptoms, and the severity of their condition was linked to the number of white blood cells found in their spinal fluid. While corticosteroids are commonly used to treat SRMA, higher doses were associated with more side effects and a lower quality of life for the dogs. Overall, the study highlighted that certain breeds are more prone to this condition, but treatment outcomes were similar across breeds.
People also search for: dog meningitis treatment · Golden Retriever SRMA symptoms · Wirehaired Pointing Griffon quality of life
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis (SRMA) is a common inflammatory neurologic disorder of dogs for which certain breeds are predisposed. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether breed differences exist in clinical features, treatment response, and relapse in a population of North American dogs with SRMA, and to evaluate the effect of disease on dogs' quality of life (QoL). ANIMALS: Sixty-one client-owned dogs with SRMA: 29 dogs identified through an American Kennel Club-Canine Health Foundation survey and 32 dogs from North Carolina (NC) State Veterinary Hospital. METHODS: Retrospective case series. Caregivers completed an online survey to assess QoL. RESULTS: Breeds represented most often included the Golden Retriever (n = 12), Bernese Mountain Dog (10), Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (9), Boxer (9), and Beagle (6). No breed differences were identified with respect to clinical severity, diagnostic findings, or outcome. Twenty-nine dogs (48%) had ≥1 disease relapse. There was a significant effect of cerebrospinal fluid nucleated cell count on the frequency of disease relapse (P = .003), but no relationship was identified between treatment protocol and relapse. Dogs' QoL was associated with the severity of corticosteroid-related adverse effects (P = .03), which were dose-related (r = .24, P = .02) and more prevalent in Wirehaired Pointing Griffons than in other breeds (P = .04). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Golden Retrievers and Wirehaired Pointing Griffons should be considered among the breeds recognized to develop SRMA. Treatment with higher corticosteroid dosages is correlated with more severe adverse effects and worse QoL, but it may not improve clinical outcome.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31175683/