title: Electrodiagnostic studies in presumptive primary hypothyroidism and polyneuropathy in dogs with reevaluation during hormone replacement therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peripheral neuropathy is the most common neurological manifestation of canine hypothyroidism. Data concerning electrodiagnostic studies in hypothyroid associated polyneuropathy in dogs are very limited and usually lack a reevaluation after hormone replacement therapy. The objective of this study was to perform a detailed, retrospective analysis of electromyographic (EMG), motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV), F-wave and brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) findings in 24 dogs with presumptive primary hypothyroidism and polyneuropathy with a comparison of the results before and after initiation of levothyroxine treatment with the assessment of the clinical outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results obtained from hypothyroid dogs showed a significant reduction in MNCV at a proximal-distal and middle-distal stimulation, decreased amplitudes of compound muscle action potentials (CMAP), an increased CMAP duration and a prolonged distal latency prior to treatment. Fifty percent of the dogs had an increased F-wave latency. A normal BAER recording was found in 78 % of the hypothyroid patients without vestibular impairment. Bilaterally increased peak V latencies and increased interpeak I-V latencies were found in the remaining individuals. Dogs with concurrent vestibular impairment had ipsilaterally increased peak latencies with normal interpeak latencies and decreased amplitudes of wave I and II. A comparison of the findings before and after 2 months of treatment revealed a decrease in the pathological activity on EMG, an improvement of proximal, middle and distal CMAP amplitudes and an increase in the proximal-distal conduction velocity in all dogs. F-wave latency improved in 38 % of dogs. The BAER reexamination revealed a persistent prolongation of peak I, II, III and V latencies and decreased wave I amplitude on the affected side in all dogs manifesting vestibular signs. Conversely, in dogs without vestibular signs, the peak V and interpeak I-V latencies decreased to normal values after a given time of the treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate a demyelinating and axonal pattern of polyneuropathy in dogs with suspected hypothyroidism. Most of the patients without vestibular signs showed neither peripheral nor central auditory pathway impairment, concurrent to the generalized neuropathy. The follow-up examination showed a very good clinical outcome and only partial improvement in electrophysiological assessment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinic of Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, pl. Grunwaldzki 47, 50-366, Wroclaw, Poland. elzbieta.giza@up.wroc.pl.
authors.forename: Elżbieta Gabriela
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Giza
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinic of Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, pl. Grunwaldzki 47, 50-366, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Płonek
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinic of Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, pl. Grunwaldzki 47, 50-366, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Józef Marian
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nicpoń
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinic of Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, pl. Grunwaldzki 47, 50-366, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin Adam
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Wrzosek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D004568:Electrodiagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011115:Polyneuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: BAER; Dog; Electrodiagnostic; Hypothyroidism; Levothyroxine; Polyneuropathy