Survival time and relapse in dogs with meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown origin treated with prednisolone and ciclosporin: a retrospective study

Objective: To analyse outcome in dogs with a presumptive diagnosis of meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown origin (MUO) treated with prednisolone and ciclosporin and to assess the effect of a number of patient variables on survival time and rate of relapse. Design: Retrospective case series. Methods: Medical records of 40 client-owned dogs with a diagnosis of MUO treated with prednisolone and ciclosporin at one institution between June 2010 and January 2018 were reviewed retrospectively to assess survival times and prognostic indicators for death and/or relapse. The minimum follow-up time was 11 months post-diagnosis. Results: Median survival was 1345 days (95% confidence interval: 487-∞). No associations with hazard of death or relapse were detected for the presence of multifocal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities, caudal fossa location of MRI abnormalities, value of cerebrospinal fluid total nucleated cell count or total protein at time of diagnosis, or suspected elevation in intracranial pressure at time of diagnosis. Conclusion: Protracted survival time may be achieved with a treatment combination of prednisolone and ciclosporin. Suspected elevation in intracranial pressure at the time of diagnosis did not affect long-term outcome in this cohort.