Abstract
Human diseases sometimes represented across phylogenetic lines. Their recognition is at times compromised by differential (between human and veterinary medicine) use of diagnostic terms. A major impetus to such change is recognition of additional treatment options that would not be considered for the replaced diagnosis/category. Canine syndesmophytes are recognized as identifier for spondyloarthropathy. This study examines the breed-specificity of those changes. The axial skeletons and peripheral joints (when available) of 1323 dogs, identified to breed, were examined for evidence of syndesmophytes and sacroiliac joint disease. Syndesmophytes were found in 315 of 1323 axial skeletons examined, extremely common in Boxer and German Shephard; rare, in Beagle, Chihauahua, Dachshund, Maltese and Pug. First noted at 2 years of age, its prevalence increased geometrically over the next 13 years. All affected individuals weighed more than 2 kilograms and prevalence increased geometrically through 39.9 kilograms. Spondyloarthropathy was present in 17.3% of brachycephalic, contrasted with 35.0% of mesticephalic dogs [Chi square = 16.972, p < 0.0001]. Presence of syndesmophytes identified the underlying arthritis as spondyloarthropathy, not osteoarthritis. Recognition of the vertebral findings as characteristic of this inflammatory arthritis affords an opportunity for controlling the disease process and improving quality of life of the afflicted dog.
Highlights
Describing, diagnosing and categorizing vertebral pathology has long been a source of confusion for all health care providers, whether for humans or other animals [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]
Recognition of the vertebral findings as characteristic of this inflammatory arthritis affords an opportunity for controlling the disease process and improving quality of life of the afflicted dog
Spur-like overgrowth of vertebral margins [parallel to vertebral endplates] had been considered a disease process in humans [6,7], until it was recognized that such spurs are as common in asymptomatic individuals and seem to represent a manifestation of the aging process [6,9]
Summary
Describing, diagnosing and categorizing vertebral pathology has long been a source of confusion for all health care providers, whether for humans or other animals [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. Spur-like overgrowth of vertebral margins [parallel to vertebral endplates] had been considered a disease process in humans [6,7], until it was recognized that such spurs are as common in asymptomatic individuals and seem to represent a manifestation of the aging process [6,9] They are referred to as spondylosis deformans, rather than as osteoarthritis [9,10]. When they originate on the vertebral body but are not contiguous with the endplate margin, they are referred to as non-marginal syndesmophytes [10] The latter must be distinguished from ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament, which is separate from the vertebral body. The key to distinguishing syndesmophytes from ligamentous ossification is the observable space between the ossification and the vertebral body in the latter [referred to as diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis]
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