Mycophenolate mofetil plus prednisolone combination therapy for necrotising leukoencephalitis in a dog: long-term clinical observation, serial imaging analysis and histopathological findings

Abstract

An 8-year-old intact male mixed-breed dog presented with tetraparesis, right side head tilt, and cluster seizure-like episodes. Based on the magnetic resonance imaging and cerebrospinal fluid analysis results, meningoencephalitis of an unknown aetiology was strongly suspected. The patient survived for 963 days under mycophenolate mofetil plus prednisolone therapy and was ultimately diagnosed with necrotising leukoencephalitis. This report describes the clinical findings, the serial magnetic resonance imaging characteristics, and the histopathologic features of a case of necrotising leukoencephalitis and the long-term survival after mycophenolate mofetil plus prednisolone therapy.

Keywords

• autoimmune encephalitis
• magnetic resonance imaging (mri)
• meningoencephalitis of an unknown aetiology (mue)
• necrotising meningoencephalitis (nme)