title: Relapses in dogs with steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe relapse rates in steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis and to describe clinical and laboratory parameters in dogs with and without relapses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-four dogs with steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis were retrospectively identified and assigned to one of three groups: (1) without relapse; (2) at least one relapse and (3) unknown relapse status. The following parameters are reported for the first two groups: sex, age, breed, body weight, nucleated cell count, total protein concentration and percentage of neutrophils on initial cerebrospinal fluid analysis, immunoglobulin A in serum and initial cerebrospinal fluid analysis, nucleated cell count on cerebrospinal fluid analysis at 3-month re-evaluation, C-reactive protein in serum and initial cerebrospinal fluid analysis and at 3-month re-evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Relapses occurred in 32 · 4% of dogs (one relapse: 62 · 5%; two relapses: 25 · 0%; three relapses: 8 · 3%; four relapses: 4 · 2%), 55 · 4% were relapse-free and in 12 · 2% the relapse status was unknown. C-reactive protein in serum and cerebrospinal fluid on 3-month re-evaluation was normal in 80% and 75% of dogs with relapses, respectively. In dogs without relapse, C-reactive protein in serum and cerebrospinal fluid on 3-month re-evaluation was normal in 100% and 90% of dogs, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Relapses are frequent but no reliable predictive indicator has emerged in this study. Nevertheless, elevated C-reactive protein in serum warrants continuing therapy; normal C-reactive protein in serum does not exclude future relapse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 23, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Biedermann
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 9, 30559, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tipold
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 23, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Flegel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001167:Arteritis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D011239:Prednisolone