[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Dr. Clemmons DNA
- From: arycrest@xxxxxxx
- To: Doctrcorgi@xxxxxxx, showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 08 Feb 2005 22:04:36 +0000
Breaking DM News!!!!
December 2004
Dr. Clemmons is now able to accept samples for DNA evaluation, at least in
suspect affected GSDM* dogs. He can run the test for people, knowing that it
may be negative in a number of suspect cases. However, he cannot run it for
free since the reagent cost is currently high. Therefore, he is asking people
to make a $50.00 donation to the University of Florida Foundation with 'for Dr.
Clemmonsâ?? research' in the memo section and to send the check along with the
CBC sample on a cold pack to him, overnight delivery. Your local veterinarian
may be able to help you with this. Dr Clemmons will provide the results within
2 weeks. He still feels it should not be the sole diagnostic run for the
disease, but it may go a long way toward confirming the presence of GSDM.
Dr Clemmons is ready to begin stem cell research! He is waiting on funding for
this project. Sadly, there is not tons of money laying around to subsidize the
work. Dr Clemmons believes he can determine safety (certainly should be from
all the available human data) and may be able to get some idea about efficacy.
Unfortunately, he canâ??t track the cells or prove he has fixed anything unless
the MRI data is superb. He might get some answers down the line, but he does
not want to use vector infected cells in patients until he knows for sure the
vector wonâ??t cause problems down the line. Of course, that only helps you if
you do necropsies on the patients, too. His hope is that the stem cells will
fix the dogs and necropsies will be a long time off. So, we are pretty excited.
The stem cells take a couple of appointments and Dr Clemmons will look to use
it in more advanced cases (where the current medication arenâ??t working, yet
he have confirmed the GSDM as the sole cause) initially. The first appointment
is to make sure of the Dx and to collect the bone marrow. The bone marrow stem
cells will be cultured and, if all goes well, then replaced in the patient (but
in the CSF space) in about 3 weeks. He will then have to monitor and see how
thing go. Some of this will be just observation, but EMG data will help
determine if he has changed things. So, it may require a follow-up visit 2
months after transplantation. All in all it will be fairly involved and he will
have to be in close touch with the owners. It is also something he wouldnt be
able to do without seeing the patients. So, the owners have to be committed and
also have to have the financial resources to be able to do it. He will
subsidize what he can, but he needs to be offering the best he
knows. He can offer his skill and compassion. That he will provide for free.
He wonâ??t charge for doing the bone marrow, but may for the tests to be sure
it is the right thing and for the implantation and hospitalization. That is not
small, but still a lot of savings.
Dr Clemmons canâ??t help everyone and he will have to be fairly selective on
the imaging and stem cell studies for the moment, but the flood gates are open
for sampling the DNA. If he can eventually control the costs (by volume) he
might be able to use any remainder of money to help defray the costs for the
stem cells. If you have a German Shepherd Dog* that your vet feels may have
Degenerative Myelopathy, and you wish to send a DNA sample, it is best to send
a CBC tube on a refrigerator pack (not frozen) over night express to:
R.M. Clemmons, DVM, PhD
Associate Professor of Neurology & Neurosurgery
SACS, College of Veterinary Medicine
Box 100126, HSC
2015 SW 16th Avenue, V2-107
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32610-0126
352.392.4700
Interpretation of the DM Flash Test Results
The DM Flash Test has been found to be positive in dogs who have been found to
have Degenerative Myelopathy as defined in the German Shepherd breed of dogs by
the clinical criteria which are consistent in that disease. These include a
history of a non-painful, chronic TL spinal cord disease in susceptible breeds;
a normal electromyographic examination except for an abnormal spinal evoked
potential; an elevated CSF protein in the lumbar cistern with elevated CSF
cholinesterase level (without other definable cause); and normal (no
compressive lesions) special imaging of the spinal column (myelogram or MRI).
These tests are part of a comprehensive diagnosis of neurologic disease. The DM
Flash Test helps to confirm that DM is part of the neurologic picture; however,
there may be other diseases occurring simultaneously. As such, the DM Flash
Test should not be used as the sole diagnostic test in evaluating dogs with
neurologic disease. It should be used as one part of the diagnost
ic process.
A positive DM Flash Test in a susceptible breed with an appropriate neurologic
condition helps confirm that DM is, at least, part of the disease process.
A negative DM Flash Test suggests that there is another cause of the neurologic
disease rather than DM.
Based upon evaluating dogs presumptively diagnosed as DM upon clinical signs
alone, we expect that only 25% of those cases will be positive by the DM Flash
Test, since this is the number who are found to have DM using the above
diagnostic criteria. We do not currently know if the DM Flash Test becomes
positive before the signs of clinical disease are apparent or if the DM Flash
Test could indicate a genetic potential to develop DM, we only know that it is
abnormal in DM dogs diagnosed by our criteria. We still believe that these
additional diagnostic tests should be performed along with the DM Flash Test.
* Dr Clemmons is also now accepting DNA samples, for evaluation, from any breed
of dog whose vet fels that DM is a real possibility.
--
Gayle
Ringer ~ Honey ~ Kelly ~ Bo-Bo ~
Mac ~ Slider
Waiting at the Bridge: Andy ~
Abbey ~ Tasha ~ Tex ~ Echo ~
Yukon ~ JR ~ Too ~ Niki
-------------- Original message from Doctrcorgi@xxxxxxx: --------------
> Would someone please print (e-mail) the press release about Dr. Clemmons DNA
> study for DM
> Thanx Chuck kruger dvm
> www.dockruger.com
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