TREATMENT OF AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM OF DOGS
Allen Sisson DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVIM (Neurology)
Angell Animal Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
Several inflammatory, primary central nervous system (CNS) derangements of dogs have been described such as:
1. Granulomatous Meningoencephalomyelitis (GME)
2. Necrotizing Encephalitis of mostly Pug, Maltese and
Yorkshire terrier dogs
3. Corticosteroid-Responsive or Neutrophilic Meningitis
4. Eosinophilic Meningoencephalomyelitis
5. Idiopathic Tremor Syndrome or Cerebellitis
6. Pyogranulomatous Meningoencephalitis
The two things these conditions have in common are that they are considered to be idiopathic, since no causative agent or infectious organism has been found,10,17 and they all respond, to some degree, to immune suppressive therapy. Because of this, most people now believe that these diseases are either autoimmune or neoplastic in nature. However, an autoimmune etiology is most likely since in most cases with aggressive immunosuppressive therapy permanent remission can be achieved which would be unlikely if they really were of neoplastic origin.
Depending on where in the brain and spinal cord these diseases start, and how rapidly they progress, they can cause a wide variety of signs. The most common presenting clinical signs are:
1. Progressively worsening central vestibular signs
2. Progressively worsening seizures and behavior abnormalities
3. Progressively worsening neck and or back pain
4. Progressively worsening para or tetraparesis
5. Progressively worsening generalized severe intention tremor
6. Acute onset of blindness |