title: The pathogenesis and treatment of acute spinal cord injuries in dogs.
abstract: Mechanical damage to the spinal cord initiates a secondary injury cascade that results in ischemia, disturbances in ion concentrations, excitotoxicity, production of reactive oxygen species, inflammation, and apoptosis. Over weeks to months a glial scar forms, and scarring can result in the development of syringomyelia. In the early phase of the disease, treatment should focus on maintaining systemic blood pressure and oxygenation, decompression of the spinal cord, and stabilization, if indicated. There are currently no proven neuroprotective drug therapies for limiting secondary damage, but blinded clinical trials are underway. Transplantation with olfactory ensheathing cells and mesenchymal stem cells show promise, as do potassium channel antagonists. Canine clinical trials of these therapies are ongoing.
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA. Natasha_olby@ncsu.edu
authors: Natasha
authors: N
authors: Olby
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004285:Dogs / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000662:veterinary; D009187:Myelitis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D058630:Spinal Cord Regeneration; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents