The use of membrane-based therapeutic plasma exchange for the management of acute canine polyradiculoneuritis and reduction of antigen-specific IgG in one dog.

Abstract

Acute canine polyradiculoneuritis is one of the most common lower motor neuron diseases in dogs. Given similarities to Guillain-Barré syndrome in people, an immune-mediated component has long been suspected. In veterinary medicine, two studies have documented specific antibodies as serum biomarkers for acute canine polyradiculoneuritis, including anti-GM2 and anti-GalNAc-GD1a immunoglobulin G anti-glycolipid antibodies. This case report documents the first use of membrane-based therapeutic plasma exchange for the management of acute canine polyradiculoneuritis as well as an overall reduction in anti-GM2 IgG and anti-GalNAc-GD1a IgG with subsequent treatments. The clinical recovery in this dog was rapid, with improved motor function within 48 hours of her first treatment and a complete return to normal within 1 month.