Question submitted by the audience in our recent webinar: Understanding Steroid Responsive Meningitis-Arteritis and Other Inflammatory Neurological Disorders of Dogs:
What can we do when cost issues prevent extensive diagnostics?
Answer by: Karen R. Muñana, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology):
The most important diagnostic test is CSF analysis, which is required to diagnose SRMA. However, once a diagnosis is made, response to therapy can be monitored by measuring C reactive protein in the blood rather than performing repeated CSF taps. Furthermore, although MRI can be useful to rule out other causes of neck pain, a diagnosis of SRMA can be made without performing MRI.