Syringomyelia (SM) is a debilitating condition in the cavalier King Charles spaniel (CKCS) that results in neuropathic pain and diminished quality of life. Von Frey aesthesiometry (VFA) is a method of mechanical quantitative sensory testing that provides an objective sensory threshold (ST) value and can be used to quantify neuropathic pain (NP) and monitor response to therapy. The utility of VFA has been previously established in client-owned dogs with acute spinal cord injury but the technique has not been evaluated in dogs with SM. The goal of this study was to evaluate ST, as determined by VFA, in dogs with and without SM, to assess the utility of VFA in quantifying NP in SM-affected dogs. We hypothesized the SM-affected CKCS would have lower ST values, consistent with hyperesthesia, when compared to control CKCS. Additionally, we hypothesized that ST values in SM-affected dogs would be inversely correlated with syrinx size on MRI and with owner-derived clinical sign scores. ST values for the thoracic and pelvic limbs differed significantly between the SM-affected and control CKCS (p = 0.027; p = 0.0396 respectively). Median ST value (range) for the thoracic limbs was 184.1 g (120.9–552) for control dogs, and 139.9 g (52.6–250.9) for SM-affected dogs. The median ST value (range) for the pelvic limbs was 164.9 g (100.8–260.3) in control dogs and 129.8 g (57.95–168.4) in SM-affected dogs. The ST values in SM-affected dogs did not correlate with syrinx height on MRI (r = 0.314; p = 0.137). Owner-reported clinical sign scores showed an inverse correlation with pelvic limb ST values, where dogs with lower ST values (hyperesthesia) were reported by their owners to display more frequent and severe clinical signs (r = − 0.657; p = 0.022). ST values were lower in SM-affected CKCS compared to control dogs, suggesting the presence of neuropathic pain. Dogs with lower ST pelvic limb values were perceived by their owners to have more severe clinical signs classically associated with SM. Our results suggest that VFA might offer quantitative assessment of neuropathic pain in SM-affected dogs and could be useful for monitoring response to therapy in future clinical studies.

中文翻译：

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在有和没有脊髓空洞症的骑士查尔斯王猎犬中进行机械定量感官测试

脊髓空洞症（SM）是骑士查尔斯王猎犬（CKCS）的虚弱病状，会导致神经性疼痛并降低生活质量。冯·弗雷（Von Frey）麻醉测量（VFA）是一种机械定量的感觉测试方法，可提供客观的感觉阈值（ST）值，可用于量化神经性疼痛（NP）和监测对治疗的反应。先前已经在患有急性脊髓损伤的客户拥有的狗中建立了VFA的效用，但尚未在具有SM的狗中对该技术进行评估。这项研究的目的是评估由VFA确定的有或没有SM的犬的ST，以评估VFA在量化受SM感染的犬的NP中的效用。我们假设与对照CKCS相比，受SM影响的CKCS的ST值较低，与感觉异常一致。另外，我们假设受SM感染的狗的ST值与MRI上的syrinx大小以及所有者产生的临床体征评分呈负相关。受SM影响的CKCS和对照CKCS之间，胸和骨盆ST值显着不同（分别为p = 0.027； p = 0.0396）。对照犬的胸肢中位ST值（范围）为184.1 g（120.9–552），受SM感染的犬为139.9 g（52.6–250.9）。对照犬骨盆肢的中位ST值（范围）为164.9 g（100.8–260.3），受SM感染的犬为129.8 g（57.95–168.4）。受SM感染的狗的ST值与MRI上的syrinx高度无关（r = 0.314； p = 0.137）。所有者报告的临床体征得分显示与骨盆肢体ST值呈负相关，其中主人报告其ST值较低（感觉异常）的狗表现出更频繁和更严重的临床体征（r = − 0.657； p = 0.022）。与对照组相比，受SM感染的CKCS的ST值较低，表明存在神经性疼痛。拥有者认为具有较低ST骨盆肢体值的狗具有经典的与SM有关的更严重的临床体征。我们的结果表明，VFA可能对受SM感染的狗的神经性疼痛进行定量评估，并可能用于监测未来临床研究中对治疗的反应。拥有者认为具有较低ST骨盆肢体值的狗具有经典的与SM有关的更严重的临床体征。我们的结果表明，VFA可能对受SM感染的狗的神经性疼痛进行定量评估，并可能用于监测未来临床研究中对治疗的反应。拥有者认为具有较低ST骨盆肢体值的狗具有经典的与SM有关的更严重的临床体征。我们的结果表明，VFA可能对受SM感染的狗的神经性疼痛提供定量评估，并可能用于在未来的临床研究中监测对治疗的反应。