Complete recovery of right forebrain signs from presumptive cerebrovascular origin in an eight-year-old sport horse

Z Neuckermans,G Van Loon,M Hoegaerts,J Rijckaert,K Kromhout

doi:10.21825/vdt.v90i4.20709

Abstract

In this case report, an eight-year-old Warmblood gelding is described with a presumptive vascular event resulting in severe head turn and circling to the right. The horse recovered completely from the clinical signs. Pathologies that cause asymmetrical forebrain signs in horses could be excluded. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a flow difference in the venous sinuses that was presumably caused by cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. The horse was treated with prednisolone, antibiotics, vitamin E and B1 and acetylsalicylic acid. He was represented one month after the initial clinical signs and was clinically and neurologically normal. The horse subsequently returned to his previous level of jumping.

Highlights

Asymmetrical forebrain pathology can be associated with head and neck turn with or without head tilt, circling, changes in behavior or consciousness, seizures, visual problems and facial sensation abnormalities
Pathological processes that may result in cerebrovascular disease include vascular occlusion by a thrombus or embolus, lesion or altered permeability of the blood vessel wall and increased viscosity or other changes in the quality of the blood (Adams and Victor, 1997)
The diagnosis is usually based on anamnesis, clinical examination, advanced medical imaging and cerebrospinal fluid analysis to rule out inflammatory disease (Garosi, 2010; Yenigün et al, 2015)

Summary

Introduction

Asymmetrical forebrain pathology can be associated with head and neck turn with or without head tilt, circling, changes in behavior or consciousness, seizures, visual problems and facial sensation abnormalities. Imaging studies of the brain (computed tomography, conventional and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)) are necessary to reinforce the suspicion or confirm the stroke, define the vascular territory involved, determine the extent of the lesion and distinguish between ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke They are necessary to rule out other causes, such as neoplasia, trauma and encephalitis. Most dogs with ischemic stroke tend to recover within several weeks with only supportive care (Garosi and McConnell, 2005; Kang et al, 2007) In this case report, an eight-year-old Warmblood gelding is presented with a presumptive vascular event resulting in severe head turn and circling to the right; the horse recovered completely from the clinical signs

Results

Discussion

Conclusion