Holocord syringomyelia in 18 dogs.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Neurology
• Canine Pathophysiology
• Comparative Medicine

Background:

• Holocord syringomyelia (HSM) is a rare spinal cord condition characterized by cavitation, poorly documented in canine medicine.
• This study addresses the limited understanding of HSM in dogs, focusing on clinical and imaging findings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the clinical presentation and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in dogs diagnosed with Holocord syringomyelia (HSM).
• To identify potential breed predispositions and evaluate disease progression and treatment outcomes in affected dogs.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective multicentric case series analyzing data from 18 dogs with confirmed HSM.
• Review of clinical history, neurological examination findings, and detailed MRI scans of the spinal cord and brain.

Main Results:

• French Bulldogs were overrepresented (50%); 67% of dogs showed myelopathy, and 44% experienced spinal pain.
• HSM commonly affected cervical (C1-C5) and thoracic (L3-L6) spinal cord segments, frequently associated with intracranial malformations (94%).
• Disease progression was observed in 56% of dogs during a median 12-month follow-up, with limited treatment success.

Conclusions:

• This is the first study characterizing canine HSM, suggesting a breed predisposition in French Bulldogs.
• The high incidence of myelopathy and disease progression highlights the need for research into HSM's etiopathogenesis and effective therapeutic strategies.
• Further investigation into canine HSM is crucial for improving diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in veterinary neurology.