Long-term survival of a dog with Alexander disease

Abstract

A 1-year- and 11-month-old spayed female toy poodle had showed progressive ataxia and paresis in the hindlimbs since 11 months old. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed high signal intensity on T2-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images at the thoracic and lumbar spinal cord. The dog’s neurological condition slowly deteriorated and flaccid tetraparesis was exhibited. At 4 years and 11 months old, the dog died of respiratory failure. On postmortem examination, eosinophilic corkscrew bundles (Rosenthal fibers) were observed mainly in the thoracic and lumbar spinal cord. Histological features were comparable to previously reported cases with Alexander disease. This is a first case report to describe the clinical course and long-term prognosis of a dog with Alexander disease.

Diagnostic features of type II fibrinoid leukodystrophy (Alexander disease) in a juvenile Beagle dog

“… 2 In a 19‐month‐old Toy Poodle that was presented with a progressive history of paraparesis, MRI (0.4 T) of the thoracolumbar spinal cord showed bilateral symmetrical T2‐weighted hyperintensities and T1‐weighted isointensities of the thoracic and lumbar spinal cord. 3 In both cases, histopathological examination of the central nervous system showed diffuse changes of the white matter throughout the neuraxis. The use of a low field MR scanner could explain the limited imaging changes in the first case.…”

“…In a 6‐month‐old Bernese mountain dog MRI using a low field (0.2 T) magnet showed mild generalized ventriculomegaly and distension of the recessus rostralis along with linear, symmetrical, bilateral T2‐weighted hyperintensities on the border between the white and gray matter in the cerebral cortex of the frontal, temporal and occipital lobes 2 . In a 19‐month‐old Toy Poodle that was presented with a progressive history of paraparesis, MRI (0.4 T) of the thoracolumbar spinal cord showed bilateral symmetrical T2‐weighted hyperintensities and T1‐weighted isointensities of the thoracic and lumbar spinal cord 3 . In both cases, histopathological examination of the central nervous system showed diffuse changes of the white matter throughout the neuraxis.…”

“… 2 Moreover, to date, only 2 dogs with AD have undergone imaging studies using low field MRI scanners in which mild and nonspecific abnormalities were identified. 2 , 3 A causal GFAP variant is identified in a Labrador with AD. 4 Here we describe a case of histopathologically confirmed AD in a young Beagle, with important abnormalities detected by high field MRI similar to those found in people with AD.…”

“…Only a few cases of histopathologically confirmed AD are reported in dogs 2 . Moreover, to date, only 2 dogs with AD have undergone imaging studies using low field MRI scanners in which mild and nonspecific abnormalities were identified 2,3 . A causal GFAP variant is identified in a Labrador with AD 4 .…”