Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How common is myelin-like material in dog spinal fluid tests
By Zabolotzky, Shanon M et al.·Published in Veterinary clinical pathology·2010·Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Prevalence and significance of extracellular myelin-like material in canine cerebrospinal fluid.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study looked at the presence of myelin-like material in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 98 dogs with neurological issues. They found that this material was more common in samples taken from the lower back compared to those taken from the brain area, especially in smaller dogs weighing less than 10 kg. Interestingly, while dogs with intervertebral disk disease had more myelin-like material, this finding did not indicate a worse outcome for the dogs. Overall, it seems that the presence of this material is likely related to how the samples were collected rather than a sign of serious neurological disease.
People also search for: dog cerebrospinal fluid myelin · small dog neurological issues · intervertebral disk disease prognosis
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Myelin-like material in canine cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens has been attributed to demyelinating or myelomalacic conditions. In our experience, myelin-like material is observed frequently, especially in lumbar samples, and in a variety of disease conditions. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine if there are associations between the presence of myelin-like material and CSF collection site, body weight, underlying disease, and patient outcome. METHODS: Wright-Giemsa-stained cytocentrifuged specimens of CSF from the cerebellomedullary cistern (n=51) and lumbar cistern (n=47) of 98 dogs with neurologic disease were evaluated retrospectively for the presence and amount of extracellular myelin-like material. Results were compared based on collection site, body weight, type of neurologic disease, and outcome. RESULTS: Myelin-like material was observed in 20/98 (20%) samples and was more frequently observed in lumbar (17/47, 36%) than cerebellomedullary samples (3/51, 6%) (P=.0028). Samples from dogs <10 kg were more likely to contain myelin (14/36, 39%) compared with dogs > or =10 kg (5/60, 8%) (P=.0052). Larger amounts of myelin-like material were observed in CSF from dogs with intervertebral disk disease compared with other diseases (P=.045). No association was found between myelin-like material and outcome. CONCLUSION: The association of extracellular myelin-like material in canine CSF samples with sampling site and body weight suggests it is more often an artifact of collection technique and anatomy rather than the result of neurologic disease. Myelin-like material in CSF is not associated with a poorer prognosis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19843299/