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Polyarthritis / meningitis syndrome
Synonym(s): Steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis;SRMA
Introduction
- May overlap with polyarteritis nodosa Polyarteritis nodosa and polyarthritis of Japanese Akita.
- Steroid responsive meningitis arteritis (SRMA Steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis (SRMA) ) is currently the most widely accepted term.
- Cause: immune-mediated disease.
- Signs: stiffness, depression.
- Diagnosis: hematology, serology, CSF analysis.
- Treatment: immunosuppressive therapy.
- Prognosis: fair.
Presenting signs
- Depression.
- Reluctance to move.
- Anorexia.
Age predisposition
- Young (2-8 months).
- Occasionally young adults.
Breed/Species predisposition
- Bernese Mountain Dog Bernese Mountain Dog.
- Beagle Beagle.
- Boxer Boxer.
- German Short-haired Pointer German Shorthaired Pointer.
- Japanese Akita Akita.
- Weimaraner Weimaraner.
- Nova Scotia Duck tolling retriever Retriever: Nova Scotia Duck Tolling.
Pathogenesis
Pathophysiology
- Thought to be immunological mechanism due to response to glucocorticoid therapy.
- Pedigree analysis of affected Akitas suggests that the disease is inherited.
- Activated T cells, implying exposure to a previous or existing antigen, have sometimes been found. This suggests that dogs with this condition may have been exposed to an exogenous infectious or non-infectious agent or to an endogenous antigen.
- Affected dogs tend to produce high concentrations of intrathecal IgA and high serum IgA. These findings suggest that IgA plays an important role in the pathogenesis.
Timecourse
- Usually fairly acute onset (days to weeks).
- Disease usually cyclic with periods of remission.
Diagnosis
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Treatment
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Prevention
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Outcomes
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Johnson K C & Mackin A (2012) Canine immune-mediated polyarthritis. JAAHA 48 (1), 12-17 PubMed.
- Tipold A & Schatzberg S J (2010) An update on steroid responsive meningitis-arteritis. JSAP 51 (3), 150-154 PubMed.
- Lowrie M, Penderis J et al (2009) The role of acute phase proteins in diagnosis and management of steroid-responsive meningitis arteritis in dogs. Vet J 182 (1), 125-130 PubMed.
- Webb A A, Taylor S M, Muir G D (2002) Steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis in dogs with non-infectious, nonerosive, idiopathic, immun-mediated polyarthritis. JVIM 16 (3), 269-273 PubMed.
- Cizinauskas S, Jaggy A & Tipoid A (2000) Long-term treatment of dogs with steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis - clinical, laboratory and therapeutic results. JSAP 41 (7), 295-301 PubMed.
- Dougherty S A, Center S A, Shaw E E & Erb H A (1991) Juvenile-onset polyarthritis syndrome in Akitas. JAVMA 198 (5), 849-856 PubMed.
- Meric S M (1988) Canine meningitis a changing emphasis. JVIM 2 (1), 26-35 PubMed.