Granulomatous meningoencephalitis (GME) is a well-known immune-mediated brain disease of dogs. Cats do not have a well-defined equivalent, but a small number of cats have non-infectious inflammation of the brain, meninges and sometimes spinal cord. It is called meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown origin (MUO, or FMUO in cats). For the NAVLE the key point is that it is a diagnosis of exclusion, made only after infection has been ruled out.
Key facts
Granulomatous meningoencephalitis at a glance- Species and system: cat; central nervous system.
- Evidence base: thin. Feline MUO has been described only in small case series (16 cats in one clinical series, 4 cats with both clinical and histopathology findings). Most "GME" teaching is canine.
- Cause: unknown; presumed immune-mediated.
- Classic presentation: a middle-aged to older cat with ataxia, proprioceptive deficits, seizures or spinal hyperesthesia; some have fever or weight loss.
- Diagnosis: inflammatory CSF and compatible MRI with negative infectious testing; histopathology is definitive.
- Treatment: corticosteroid-based immunosuppression, sometimes with a second agent.
- Zoonotic or reportable: no (but rabies is on the differential list in unvaccinated cats with rapid neurological decline).
What's inside
12 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Putting it together: a stepwise approach
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 3 tables, 3 self-test questions and 5 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.