Cerebrospinal fluid and blood lactate concentrations as prognostic biomarkers in dogs with meningoencephalitis of unknown origin

• Published in: The veterinary journal (1997) Vol. 254; p. 105395
• Main Authors: Portero, M., Martínez de Merlo, E., Pérez, C., Benito, M., Daza, M.A., Fragio, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2019
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; Biomarkers - blood; Biomarkers - cerebrospinal fluid; Canine; Cerebrospinal fluid; Cytarabine - therapeutic use; Dog Diseases - blood; Dog Diseases - cerebrospinal fluid; Dogs; Female; Lactate; Lactic Acid - blood; Lactic Acid - cerebrospinal fluid; Male; Meningoencephalitis - blood; Meningoencephalitis - cerebrospinal fluid; Meningoencephalitis - drug therapy; Meningoencephalitis - veterinary; Meningoencephalitis of unknown origin; Prednisolone - therapeutic use; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Meningoencephalitis of unknown origin; Prognosis; Cerebrospinal fluid; Lactate; Canine
• ISSN: 1090-0233; 1532-2971
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2019.105395

•Prognostic factors in meningoencephalitis of unknown origin (MUO) in dogs are controversial.•Lactate is a prognostic biomarker in many diseases and its concentration can be determined in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).•High brain metabolic activity (inflammation) or raised intracranial pressure increased CSF lactate levels.•CSF lactate >4 mmol/L in MUO in dogs could be associated with lower survival. Meningoencephalitis of unknown origin (MUO) is a common inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. Several studies investigated finding prognostic factors, but results are contradictory. The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of blood lactate (Blood-L) and cerebrospinal fluid lactate (CSF-L) in dogs with MUO for prognostic purposes. A total of 45 dogs with MUO (MUO group) and 11 with idiopathic epilepsy (IE group) were included. In the MUO group, 22 dogs were treated with prednisolone + cytosine arabinoside, 17 with prednisolone ± cyclosporine, and six received no treatment. In the MUO group, there was a strong-moderate positive correlation between Blood-L and CSF-L (ρ = 0.63557; P < 0.0001), a strong-moderate negative correlation between survival and CSF-L (ρ= −0.50210; P < 0.0004), and a weak negative correlation between survival and Blood-L (ρ= −0.35685; P < 0.0220). Dogs with a favourable response to treatment at 1 month had lower initial concentrations of Blood-L and CSF-L (P < 0.0010; P < 0.0037), and those with a worse response had higher values (P < 0.0497; P < 0.0004). Dogs that remained stable with treatment showed lower CSF-L concentrations (P < 0.0013). Dogs with Blood-L>4 mmol/L (P < 0.03) and/or CSF-L> 4 mmol/L (P < 0.009) had lower survival rates with the latter also showing more severe signs, probably indicating severe neuronal damage. These findings suggest that concentrations of CSF-L and Blood-L in dogs with MUO could be used as prognostic indicators.