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Lumbar cerebrospinal fluid in dogs with type I intervertebral disc herniation

R C Windsor1, K M Vernau, B K Sturges

  • 1William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.

Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
|July 24, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Cerebrospinal fluid inflammation is more common in dogs with intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH) than previously thought. Lymphocytic inflammation suggests an immune response in chronic or acute-on-chronic IVDH cases.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Neurology
  • Canine Medicine
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis in dogs with Hansen type I intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH) typically shows normal or mildly inflammatory results.
  • A predominance of large mononuclear cells or neutrophils is usually observed in severe acute herniations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the occurrence and characteristics of CSF pleocytosis in dogs with type I IVDH.
  • To determine if lymphocytic predominance in CSF is more common in chronic or acute-on-chronic IVDH cases.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective study evaluated CSF cytology from 423 client-owned dogs with surgically confirmed type I IVDH.
  • Medical records were reviewed for signalment, clinical history, duration of signs, neurologic status, and intraoperative findings.
  • Dogs with evidence of chronic IVDH prior to acute herniation were classified as acute-on-chronic (AOC).

Main Results:

  • Pleocytosis (> 5 cells/uL) was detected in 51% of dogs with type I IVDH.
  • Moderate to marked inflammation (> or = 20 cells/uL) was found in 51% of dogs with thoracolumbar IVDH and pleocytosis.
  • Lymphocytic predominance was significantly more common in dogs with signs > 7 days and in those with AOC IVDH.

Conclusions:

  • Moderate to marked CSF pleocytosis in dogs with type I IVDH is more frequent than previously reported.
  • Lymphocytic pleocytosis is associated with chronic progression or AOC IVDH.
  • CSF lymphocytic inflammation may indicate an immune-mediated response to chronic disc material.
Abstract

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