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Cerebrospinal fluid creatine kinase activity in horses with central nervous system disease: 69 cases (1984-1989)
1Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA 24061.
Insights
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) creatine kinase (CK) activity is often elevated in horses with central nervous system (CNS) disease, particularly equine protozoal myelitis. Normal CK levels were observed in horses with cervical compressive myelopathy.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Neurology
- Equine Medicine
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Central nervous system (CNS) diseases in horses encompass a wide range of conditions.
- Diagnosing CNS disorders in horses can be challenging, requiring analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
- Creatine kinase (CK) is an enzyme found in muscle and brain tissue, and its activity in CSF may indicate neurological damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the diagnostic utility of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) creatine kinase (CK) activity in horses with central nervous system (CNS) disease.
- To determine the correlation between elevated CSF CK activity and specific neurological diagnoses in horses.
- To establish reference ranges for CSF CK activity in healthy horses versus those with CNS conditions.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 70 CSF samples from 69 horses diagnosed with various CNS diseases.
- Measurement of creatine kinase (CK) activity in each CSF sample.
- Categorization of CK values into normal (<1 IU/L) and abnormal (>=1 IU/L) ranges.
- Correlation of CSF CK activity with definitive diagnoses for each horse.
Main Results:
- Abnormal CSF CK activity (>=1 IU/L) was detected in 32 out of 70 samples.
- Normal CSF CK activity (<1 IU/L) was found in 38 out of 70 samples.
- Increased CK activity was most prevalent in horses diagnosed with equine protozoal myelitis.
- No increase in CK activity was observed in 11 horses with cervical compressive myelopathy.
- Elevated CSF CK was also associated with trauma, idiopathic epilepsy, botulism, articular facet fracture, intervertebral disk protrusion, and toxemia.
Conclusions:
- CSF creatine kinase (CK) activity is a potentially valuable biomarker for diagnosing certain equine central nervous system (CNS) diseases.
- Elevated CSF CK levels are strongly associated with equine protozoal myelitis.
- Normal CSF CK activity does not rule out CNS disease, as evidenced by cases of cervical compressive myelopathy.
- Further research is warranted to refine the diagnostic thresholds and clinical applications of CSF CK activity in equine neurology.
Abstract:
The CSF creatine kinase (CK) activity was determined in 70 CSF samples from 69 horses with CNS disease. Abnormal values (greater than or equal to 1 IU/L) were determined from 32 CSF samples, and normal values (less than 1 IU/L) were found in 38 samples. Increased CK activity was most frequently associated with a diagnosis of equine protozoal myelitis; CK activity was not increased in 11 horses with cervical compressive myelopathy. Other diagnoses, in which CSF CK activity was increased included trauma (n = 1), idiopathic epilepsy (n = 2), botulism (n = 2), articular facet fracture (n = 1), intervertebral disk protrusion (n = 1), and toxemia (n = 1).