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Relapses in dogs with steroid‐responsive meningitis‐arteritis
Author(s) -
Biedermann E.,
Tipold A.,
Flegel T.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of small animal practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1748-5827
pISSN - 0022-4510
DOI - 10.1111/jsap.12418
Subject(s) - cerebrospinal fluid , medicine , giant cell arteritis , meningitis , c reactive protein , arteritis , gastroenterology , csf albumin , surgery , vasculitis , inflammation , disease
Abstract OBJECTIVES To describe relapse rates in steroid‐responsive meningitis‐arteritis and to describe clinical and laboratory parameters in dogs with and without relapses. METHODS Seventy‐four dogs with steroid‐responsive meningitis‐arteritis were retrospectively identified and assigned to one of three groups: (1) without relapse; (2) at least one relapse and (3) unknown relapse status. The following parameters are reported for the first two groups: sex, age, breed, body weight, nucleated cell count, total protein concentration and percentage of neutrophils on initial cerebrospinal fluid analysis, immunoglobulin A in serum and initial cerebrospinal fluid analysis, nucleated cell count on cerebrospinal fluid analysis at 3‐month re‐evaluation, C‐reactive protein in serum and initial cerebrospinal fluid analysis and at 3‐month re‐evaluation. RESULTS Relapses occurred in 32 · 4% of dogs (one relapse: 62 · 5%; two relapses: 25 · 0%; three relapses: 8 · 3%; four relapses: 4 · 2%), 55 · 4% were relapse‐free and in 12 · 2% the relapse status was unknown. C‐reactive protein in serum and cerebrospinal fluid on 3‐month re‐evaluation was normal in 80% and 75% of dogs with relapses, respectively. In dogs without relapse, C‐reactive protein in serum and cerebrospinal fluid on 3‐month re‐evaluation was normal in 100% and 90% of dogs, respectively. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Relapses are frequent but no reliable predictive indicator has emerged in this study. Nevertheless, elevated C‐reactive protein in serum warrants continuing therapy; normal C‐reactive protein in serum does not exclude future relapse.