Steroid Responsive Meningitis-Arteritis (SRMA)
Steroid responsive meningitis-arteritis (SRMA) is a non-infectious inflammatory condition of the CNS meninges and associated arterial vasculature. No specific etiology has been identified as causative. This may be an immune-mediated meningitis as some dogs have abnormalities on some immunologic testing. Two forms of this disease exist, an acute and chronic form with the later resulting in additional neurologic deficits.
SRMA has been described in the literature under a variety of names, including:
Necrotizing Vasculitis, Corticosteroid Responsive (Aseptic) Meningitis, Corticosteroid Responsive (Aseptic) Meningitis, Idiopathic Sterile Pyogranulomatous Inflammation, Nonsuppurative Meningoencephalitis, Non-Infectious Meningoencephalomyelitis, Meningitis Arteritis, Steroid Responsive Myelitis, Meningeal Polyarteritis, and Juvenile Polyarteritis Syndrome.
SRMA has been described in the literature under a variety of names, including:
Necrotizing Vasculitis, Corticosteroid Responsive (Aseptic) Meningitis, Corticosteroid Responsive (Aseptic) Meningitis, Idiopathic Sterile Pyogranulomatous Inflammation, Nonsuppurative Meningoencephalitis, Non-Infectious Meningoencephalomyelitis, Meningitis Arteritis, Steroid Responsive Myelitis, Meningeal Polyarteritis, and Juvenile Polyarteritis Syndrome.
Age of Onset: Young dogs are most commonly affected (typically between 6 and 18 months of age)
Sex Predisposition: Any sex of animal can be affected
Clinical Course:
Clinical signs are typically acute or subacute in onset. The clinical signs may resolve after 2-10 days, but commonly recur.
Clinical signs are typically acute or subacute in onset. The clinical signs may resolve after 2-10 days, but commonly recur.
Clinical Signs
Behavioral/Mental Awareness
Depressed
Lethargic
Reluctance to move
Decreased appetite
Posture and Appearance
Neck rigidity
Kyphotic posture
Low head carriage
Movement
Paresis to paralysis
Proprioception
Proprioceptive deficits
Painful Reactions
Severe focal to diffuse cervical spinal pain
Vocalizing (“Screaming”) when handled or manipulated
Other
Fever
CBC: leukocytosis with mature neutrophilic
CSF: neutrophilic pleocytosis
Behavioral/Mental Awareness
Depressed
Lethargic
Reluctance to move
Decreased appetite
Posture and Appearance
Neck rigidity
Kyphotic posture
Low head carriage
Movement
Paresis to paralysis
Proprioception
Proprioceptive deficits
Painful Reactions
Severe focal to diffuse cervical spinal pain
Vocalizing (“Screaming”) when handled or manipulated
Other
Fever
CBC: leukocytosis with mature neutrophilic
CSF: neutrophilic pleocytosis
Diffuse CNS: Spinal cord meninges > Brain meninges
Unknown
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