Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Holocord syringomyelia spinal cord disease in 18 dogs
By Douralidou, Despoina et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2024·The Ralph Veterinary Referral Centre, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Holocord syringomyelia in 18 dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 6-year-old French Bulldog was diagnosed with holocord syringomyelia, a condition that causes fluid-filled cavities in the spinal cord. The dog showed signs of spinal pain and weakness, which are common symptoms of this condition. While some dogs with this issue may not show any signs, many experience worsening symptoms over time. Treatment options included surgery for one dog, while others were managed with medication or no treatment at all. After a year of follow-up, most dogs either worsened or remained the same, highlighting the need for more research on this condition and its treatment options.
People also search for: French Bulldog spinal pain · syringomyelia treatment for dogs · dog weakness and pain · holocord syringomyelia symptoms
Abstract
Holocord syringomyelia (HSM) is characterized by a continuous spinal cord cavitation along its entire length and is currently poorly documented in dogs. This retrospective multicentric case series investigates the clinical and MRI findings in 18 dogs with HSM. The median age at presentation was 82 months (range 9-108 months) and French Bulldogs were overrepresented (50%). Signs of myelopathy attributed to HSM were detected in 12 dogs (67%), spinal pain/paresthesia/allodynia in eight (44%), and four dogs (22%) had no HSM-associated signs. The most common neuroanatomical localization was C1-C5 spinal cord segments. On MRI, the cranial limit of HSM was at C1 vertebra in seven (39%) and at C2 in 11 dogs (61%). The caudal limit extended to L3 in four dogs (22%), L4 or L5 in six dogs (33%) each, and L6 in two dogs (11%). The conus medullaris terminated at L5 in one dog (6%), L6 in 11 (61%), and L7 in six dogs (33%). Seventeen dogs (94%) exhibited MRI features of Chiari-like and/or other intracranial/cranio-cervical junction malformations. One dog (6%) was treated surgically, 11 (61%) medically, and six (33%) received no treatment. Over a median follow-up of 12 months (range 2-65 months) in 16 dogs, one dog (6%) improved, nine (56%) deteriorated, four (25%) were static, and two (13%) remained free of HSM-associated signs. This is the first study to describe canine HSM, highlighting a possible breed predisposition in French Bulldogs. The frequent occurrence of myelopathy and disease progression underscores the need for further research into the underlying etiopathogenesis, natural disease evolution, and response to therapeutic interventions.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39846019/