Association between steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis and gastrointestinal signs in dogs: a case-control study.

Objective: To evaluate whether gastrointestinal signs are more frequently observed in dogs with steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis (SRMA) compared to a control population. We hypothesized that dogs with SRMA would have higher odds of exhibiting gastrointestinal signs than controls.

Methods: In a single-center, retrospective case-control study, dogs diagnosed with SRMA between December 2018 and December 2023 were identified through the institutional database medical records of the Hospital for Small Animals, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh. Data collected included signalment, cerebrospinal fluid analysis results, serum C-reactive protein levels, presenting clinical signs, and the presence of gastrointestinal signs before and during the initial phase of corticosteroid treatment. The control group consisted of age-matched dogs hospitalized during the same time period and for a similar duration that had not been referred for gastrointestinal signs and had full medical records available.

Results: 50 dogs were included in each group. Gastrointestinal signs were more frequently reported in the SRMA group, with significantly increased odds of vomiting (adjusted OR [ORa] = 7.37; 95% CI, 1.99 to 27.32) and diarrhea (ORa = 6.47; 95% CI, 2.00 to 20.91). No significant difference in regurgitation was observed (ORa = 0.49; 95% CI, 0.04 to 5.58). Among SRMA cases, gastrointestinal signs were more likely to be present prior to corticosteroid medication (ORa = 5.76; 95% CI, 2.07 to 15.97).

Conclusions: Gastrointestinal signs (specifically vomiting and diarrhea) were more common in dogs with SRMA compared to controls.

Clinical relevance: Further research is needed to investigate concurrent gastrointestinal inflammatory disease in dogs with SRMA.