Clinical features and treatment results of 16 cases of canine immune-mediated polyarthritis were evaluated retrospectively. Young to middle-aged (2-8 yrs; 14 cases), small-breed (<7 kg; 12 cases) dogs were predominant, and stifle (16) or carpal (9) joints were most frequently affected. Common clinical abnormalities included gait abnormality (16/16), pyrexia (11/16), or synovial fluid leukocytosis (12/12). Ten cases had radiographic features of erosive polyarthritis (EPA), and other 6 were regarded as non-erosive polyarthritis (NEPA). All of EPA cases were female and 6 were miniature dachshund. All cases well responded to induction therapy using predonisolone (1.25-3.4 mg/kg/day) and most could be maintained with low-dosage prednisolone (0-0.9 mg/kg/day, median 0.25) without relapse. Four of 6 NEPA cases, which regarded as idiopathic NEPA, maintained complete remission for 21 to 47 months without medication. Long-term results were evaluated in 7 cases of EPA, 6 of which maintained good quality of life with continuous administration of low-dose predonisolone for 36 to 45 months, and another one also maintained a gait ability after ceasing medication by owner's decision.
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