Prognosis in meningoencephalitis of unknown origin in dogs: Risk factors associated with survival, clinical relapse, and long‐term disability

• Published in: Journal of veterinary internal medicine 2024-05, Vol.38 (3), p.1583-1590
• Main Authors: Gonçalves, Rita, De Decker, Steven, Walmsley, Gemma, Maddox, Thomas W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; canine; Cerebrospinal fluid; Dog Diseases - diagnosis; Dog Diseases - mortality; Dogs; Female; Intracranial pressure; Magnetic resonance imaging; Male; Medical prognosis; Medical records; Meningoencephalitis - mortality; Meningoencephalitis - veterinary; mortality; MUO; outcome; Population; Prognosis; Proteins; Recurrence; relapse; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; SMALL ANIMAL; Statistical analysis; Steroids; Survival Analysis; Variables
• ISSN: 0891-6640; 1939-1676
• DOI: 10.1111/jvim.17037

Background Meningoencephalitis of unknown origin (MUO) comprises a group of noninfectious inflammatory diseases affecting the central nervous system of dogs. Previous studies have reported individual risk factors for survival but prognostication for MUO remains challenging. Objectives Identify clinical prognostic variables in dogs with MUO. Animals A retrospective study of 447 dogs presented to 2 UK referral hospitals and diagnosed with MUO. Methods Medical records of dogs diagnosed with MUO were retrospectively reviewed. Multivariable logistic regression was used for the identification of risk factors for survival and Cox proportional hazards analysis for the identification of risk factors for clinical relapse. Results Eighty‐two percent (366/447) of dogs with presumptive MUO survived to discharge and 63.5% (284/447) were alive at 6 months; 36% of the latter (103/284) had persistent neurological deficits. Breed (pugs; P = .03), epileptic seizures (P