Clinical outcomes of suspected ischemic myelopathy in cats

Ischemic myelopathy is a disorder of acute onset that is characterized by nonprogressive paresis/plegia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is particularly helpful in supporting the antemortem diagnosis of ischemic myelopathy. Cats, which were suspected to have ischemic myelopathy between 2005 and 2008, were reviewed retrospectively. The acute onset of nonprogressive and nonpainful myelopathy, the conduct of spine MRI, and the availability of complete medical records were included in the inclusion criteria. The presumptive diagnosis was based on medical history as well as clinical, cerebrospinal fluid, and MRI findings. Six cats met the inclusion criteria based on medical records that had been made for about 3 years, and had relatively good prognoses. The less number of patients with ischemic myelopathy has been reported in cats than in dogs. However, the number of cats with ischemic myelopathy in clinical settings appears to be greater than previously considered.