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Espino L, Miño N. Common Neurologic Diseases in Geriatric Dogs. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1753. [PMID: 38929372 PMCID: PMC11200570 DOI: 10.3390/ani14121753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The increase in the canine geriatric population means that veterinarians are more often confronted with diseases that are more prevalent in patients in this age group. As in other organ systems, degenerative, neoplastic, and vascular diseases are the most prevalent neurologic disorders in older dogs. A neurological disease in an older dog poses a challenge for the clinician due to the presence of concomitant diseases and age-related changes that make it difficult to interpret the neurological examination. In addition, given the age of the patients, some owners do not allow advanced imaging tests, and it is necessary to establish the most likely presumptive diagnosis to initiate treatment. Although many of these diseases can cause clinical signs that can be very upsetting, some of them can be managed with symptomatic therapy and have a good prognosis, such as idiopathic vestibular syndrome. Moreover, advances in and the greater availability of therapeutic options such as surgery and radiation therapy may increase survival and quality of life in diseases with a more serious prognosis, such as tumours. The aim of this review is to summarize the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of the more frequent diseases affecting the central nervous systems of geriatric dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciano Espino
- Departamento de Anatomía, Producción Animal y Ciencias Clínicas Veterinarias, Facultad de Veterinaria de Lugo, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain;
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Pancotto TE. Rehabilitation Therapy for the Degenerative Myelopathy Patient. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2023; 53:845-856. [PMID: 37179117 DOI: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2023.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Degenerative myelopathy is an inherited, progressive, neurodegenerative disorder affecting the spinal cord of dogs. There is no treatment of the disease. Physical rehabilitation is the only intervention that slows progression and prolongs quality of life. Further studies are needed to develop advanced treatment options and to better characterize the use of complementary therapeutic modalities in palliative care for these patients.
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Wrzosek MA, Banasik AE, Owsińska-Schmidt K, Zimny A. Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Syringomyelia Secondary to Chiari Malformation in Cavalier King Charles Spaniel-A Preliminary Study. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12233405. [PMID: 36496926 PMCID: PMC9740166 DOI: 10.3390/ani12233405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Syringomyelia secondary to Chiari-like malformation (so-called CM-SM syndrome) is a common disorder in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS) that is diagnosed using standard structural MRI, though imaging findings often do not correlate with the severity of clinical symptoms. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a technique that defines subtle microstructural changes in the course of many brain and spinal cord diseases, that are not visible on standard MRI. The aim of the study was to identify the correlation between the presence of clinical symptoms and DTI parameters, such as apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) within the spinal cord in the course of CM-SM. Study subjects included 18 dogs, CKCS with MRI-confirmed SM (SM group), and 12 CKCS dogs without SM (non-SM group). The SM group was divided into SM-symptomatic group (n = 8) and SM-asymptomatic group, n = 10). All dogs underwent same clinical and neurological assessment followed by MRI examination. All MRI studies were performed on a 1.5T MRI scanner. The MRI spine protocol included: transverse and sagittal T2-weighted images followed by DTI performed in the sagittal plane. The measurements of FA and ADC values were performed manually using the region of interest (ROI) method at the level of three intervertebral discs between C1 and C4. Notable differences in age and body weight were found. No significant differences in FA and ADC values between the SM and non-SM groups were found, but between non-SM, SM-asymptomatic and SM-symptomatic groups significant differences were found in ADC values in all three ROIs and in FA values in ROI-1 and ROI-3. SM-symptomatic dogs compared to non-SM, showed decreased FA value in ROI-1 and ROI-3 also increased ADC value in ROI-1, ROI-2 and ROI-3. SM-symptomatic dogs compared to SM-asymptomatic showed also decreased FA value in ROI-1 and ROI-3, and also increased ADC value in ROI-1, ROI-2 and ROI-3. The results suggest that the values of DTI parameters correlate with the severity of clinical symptoms in the course of CM-SM in animals. The use of DTI evaluation of CM-SM patients carries a potential value as a clinically relevant protocol for an objective assessment of the spinal cord.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Adam Wrzosek
- Department of Internal Diseases with a Clinic for Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-366 Wrocław, Poland
- Correspondence:
| | - Aleksandra Ewa Banasik
- Department of Internal Diseases with a Clinic for Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-366 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Karolina Owsińska-Schmidt
- Department of Internal Diseases with a Clinic for Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-366 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Anna Zimny
- Department of General and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-551 Wrocław, Poland
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Shinn R, Riffe A, Edwards M, Rossmeisl J. MRI diffusion tensor imaging scalar values in dogs with intervertebral disc herniation: A comparison between manual and semiautomated region of interest methods. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2022; 63:753-762. [PMID: 35789512 DOI: 10.1111/vru.13126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measures have been described as methods for quantifying spinal cord injury and predicting outcome in dogs with intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH); however, studies comparing methods for selecting regions of interest (ROIs) are currently lacking. The aims of this retrospective, methods comparison, observational study were to compare DTI measurements acquired using manual (mROI) versus semiautomated ROI (sROI) methods and to compare DTI measurements with patient outcomes. Magnetic resonance imaging scans that included DTI pulse sequences were retrieved for 65 dogs with confirmed IVDH. Regions of interest were placed at one vertebral length cranial and caudal to the region of spinal cord compression (RSCC) using the mROI and sROI methods. Scalar values based on the mROI and sROI methods were compared. There was a significant difference for all DTI measures (P < 0.0001), where fractional anisotropy was higher (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.15, 0.19) and mean diffusivity (MD; CI: -0.41, -0.35), axial diffusivity (AD; CI: -0.47, -0.36) and radial diffusivity (RD; CI: -0.36, -0.27) were lower for the mROI than for the sROI. For both the mROI and sROI, MD, AD, and RD were significantly lower (p < 0.05) at the RSCC in paraplegic dogs that did not regain motor function. The findings indicated that DTI methods for quantifying SCI using open source software and ROI were feasible for use in dogs with IVDH; however, values based on sROI methods differed from values based on mROI methods. Some DTI measures based on both the mROI and sROI methods were predictive of poor patient outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Shinn
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Ashley Riffe
- VCA Alameda East Veterinary Hospital, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Michael Edwards
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - John Rossmeisl
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
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Kowal JB, Verga SA, Pandeya SR, Cochran RJ, Sabol JC, Rutkove SB, Coates JR. Electrical Impedance Myography in Dogs With Degenerative Myelopathy. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:874277. [PMID: 35711791 PMCID: PMC9196121 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.874277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Canine degenerative myelopathy (DM) leads to disuse and neurogenic muscle atrophy. Currently there is a lack of non-invasive quantitative measures of muscle health in dogs with DM. Muscle pathology has been previously quantified in other disorders using the technique of electrical impedance myography (EIM) but it has not been reported for DM. The objective of this study was to compare EIM between DM-affected and similar aged healthy dogs as well as assess EIM changes over time in DM-affected dogs. Multifrequency EIM was performed on DM affected dogs at baseline and during disease progression and on age-matched healthy dogs. Muscles evaluated in the pelvic limbs included the craniotibialis, gastrocnemius, gracilis, sartorius, and biceps femoris. The 100 kHz phase angle was extracted from the full frequency set for analysis. Phase values were lower in DM dogs as compared to healthy controls. Specifically, phase of the gastrocnemius was lower on the left (θ = 7.69, 13.06; p =0.002) and right (θ= 6.11, 11.72; p = 0.001) in DM vs. control dogs, respectively. The mean phase value of all measured muscles was also lower on the left (θ = 9.24, 11.62; p = 0.012) and right (θ = 9.18, 11.72; p = 0.021). Other individual muscles measured did not reach statistical significance, although values were consistently lower in DM-affected dogs. With disease progression, downward trends in phase values were detected in DM-affected dogs when monitored serially over time. This study demonstrates that EIM 100 kHz phase values are sensitive to muscle pathology in DM and that phase values are decreased in dogs with DM. Measurements from the gastrocnemius muscle show the greatest differences from similar aged healthy dogs suggesting it may be the preferred muscle for future EIM studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph B. Kowal
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
- *Correspondence: Joseph B. Kowal
| | - Sarah A. Verga
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Sarbesh R. Pandeya
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Randall J. Cochran
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Julianna C. Sabol
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Seward B. Rutkove
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Joan R. Coates
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
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Naito E, Nakata K, Sakai H, Yamato O, Islam MS, Maeda S, Kamishina H. Diffusion tensor imaging-based quantitative analysis of the spinal cord in Pembroke Welsh Corgis with degenerative myelopathy. J Vet Med Sci 2021; 84:199-207. [PMID: 34897158 PMCID: PMC8920728 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.21-0370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Canine degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease of the
spinal cord. The diagnosis is based on the observation of clinical signs, genetic testing,
and exclusion of other spinal cord diseases, and a definitive diagnosis of DM can only be
confirmed by postmortem histopathological findings. The aim of this study was to
investigate the diagnostic ability of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) for DM. Eight
DM-affected Pembroke Welsh Corgis, thirteen dogs with thoracolumbar intervertebral disk
herniation (IVDH), and six healthy control dogs were included. All dogs were scanned using
a 3.0-T MRI system. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA)
values were calculated for each intervertebral disk level slice between T8–T9 and L2–L3
intervertebral disk levels, and the entire area of the thoracolumbar spinal cord between
T8–T9 and L2–L3 intervertebral disk levels (T8–L3 region). The ADC and FA values of the
T8–L3 region were significantly lower in the DM group than in the IVDH group. The ADC
values for the T8–L3 region had a moderate negative correlation with clinical duration
(rs= −0.723, P=0.043); however, the FA
values of other intervertebral disk levels and T8–L3 region had no correlation with
clinical durations. The measurement of DTI indices can be used to quantitatively assess
neurodegeneration and may have diagnostic value for DM. In particular, the ADC value of
the T8–L3 region may aid in making a non-invasive premortem diagnosis of DM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eiji Naito
- Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University
| | - Kohei Nakata
- The Animal Medical Center of Gifu University, Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University
| | - Hiroki Sakai
- Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University
| | - Osamu Yamato
- Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Kagoshima University
| | | | - Sadatoshi Maeda
- Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University.,The Animal Medical Center of Gifu University, Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University
| | - Hiroaki Kamishina
- Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University.,The Animal Medical Center of Gifu University, Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University
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Lewis MJ, Shomper JL, Williamson BG, Vansteenkiste DP, Bibi KF, Lim SHY, Kowal JB, Coates JR. Brain diffusion tensor imaging in dogs with degenerative myelopathy. J Vet Intern Med 2021; 35:2342-2349. [PMID: 34410026 PMCID: PMC8478048 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Degenerative myelopathy (DM) in dogs shares similarities with superoxide dismutase 1-associated human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Brain microstructural lesions are quantified using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in ALS patients. OBJECTIVE Characterize brain neurodegenerative changes in DM-affected dogs using DTI. ANIMALS Sixteen DM-affected and 8 control dogs. METHODS Prospective observational study. Brain DTI was performed at baseline and every 3 months on DM-affected dogs and compared to controls. Fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity were calculated on specified regions of interest. Gait scores (0, normal to 14, tetraplegia) were assigned at each scan. Diffusion tensor imaging values in DM-affected dogs were compared to controls, gait scores, and evaluated over time. RESULTS Mean age was 5.7 years (SD 3.2) in controls and 9.7 years (SD 1.4) in DM-affected dogs. In DM-affected dogs, mean baseline gait score was 4 (SD 1), and mean score change from baseline to last scan was 4.82 (SD 2.67). Nine dogs had ≤3 scans; 7 had >3 scans. Accounting for age, no differences in DTI indices were identified for any brain or proximal spinal cord regions between DM-affected dogs and controls (P > .05). Diffusion tensor imaging values poorly correlated with gait scores (R2 < .2). No significant changes were identified in diffusion indices over time (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE Diffusion tensor imaging indices did not differentiate DM-affected from control dogs, detect longitudinal changes, or differentiate disease severity. Findings do not yet support brain DTI as an imaging biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa J. Lewis
- Department of Veterinary Clinical SciencesCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue UniversityWest LafayetteINUSA
| | - Jeremy L. Shomper
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and SurgeryUniversity of Missouri, College of Veterinary MedicineColumbiaMOUSA
| | - Baye G. Williamson
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and SurgeryUniversity of Missouri, College of Veterinary MedicineColumbiaMOUSA
| | - Daniella P. Vansteenkiste
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and SurgeryUniversity of Missouri, College of Veterinary MedicineColumbiaMOUSA
| | - Katherine F. Bibi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and SurgeryUniversity of Missouri, College of Veterinary MedicineColumbiaMOUSA
| | - Stefanie H. Y. Lim
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and SurgeryUniversity of Missouri, College of Veterinary MedicineColumbiaMOUSA
| | - Joseph B. Kowal
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and SurgeryUniversity of Missouri, College of Veterinary MedicineColumbiaMOUSA
| | - Joan R. Coates
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and SurgeryUniversity of Missouri, College of Veterinary MedicineColumbiaMOUSA
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