An exploratory study using a statistical approach as a platform for clinical reasoning in canine epilepsy

Armasu, Mihaela; Packer, Rowena M. A.; Cook, Steve; Solcan, G.; Volk, Holger A.

doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2014.08.008

Cited by 33 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Age of onset of IE is most common between six months and six years (Armas¸u and others 2014) and the condition is usually lifelong; in some cases requiring constant medication. In contrast, dogs with StE are more commonly under six months or over six years (Armas¸u and others 2014, Berendt and others 2015).…”

Section: Epilespy and Quality Of Lifementioning

confidence: 99%

Epilepsy beyond seizures: a review of the impact of epilepsy and its comorbidities on health‐related quality of life in dogs

Packer

Volk

2015

Veterinary Record

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dog's quality of life (QoL) is of greatest importance to them above their seizure frequency; however, 5 much of the research into canine IE to date has focussed on seizure frequency, and how to reduce it 6 via anti-epileptic drug treatment. In humans, the impact of epilepsy upon QoL has been widely studied, 7 exploring its impact on physical health, but also the psychological health and cognitive capabilities of 8 affected individuals. This paper reviews the existing literature on canine IE, identifying potential 9 threats to QoL, drawing parallels from human epilepsy research. We suggest that canine IE poses 10 threats to both quality and quantity of life, with treatment interventions posing a fine balance of 11 potential benefits and harms to the patient. At present, little is known about the neurobehavioural, 12 emotional and cognitive effects of IE upon affected dogs, with further studies needed to establish the 13 extent to which unknown QoL-inhibiting comorbidities exist in the dog, to avoid their undertreatment. 14 More in-depth studies are required to objectively quantify the effects of IE on QoL

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Section: Epilespy and Quality Of Lifementioning

confidence: 99%

Epilepsy beyond seizures: a review of the impact of epilepsy and its comorbidities on health‐related quality of life in dogs

Packer

Volk

2015

Veterinary Record

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“…An increased likelihood of a significant brain lesion with age has been established in neurologically normal dogs with recurrent seizures, and studies have indicated a substantially higher risk in dogs older than six years of age, which is primarily related to the higher prevalence of neoplastic lesions in older animals (Smith and others 2008, Schwartz and others 2013, Armasu and others 2014, De Risio and others 2015). …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Magnetic resonance imaging findings in epileptic cats with a normal interictal neurological examination: 188 cases

Raimondi¹,

Shihab²,

Gutierrez‐Quintana

et al. 2017

Veterinary Record

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Epilepsy is a common neurological condition in dogs and cats. Although an increased likelihood of significant brain lesions with age has been identified in neurologically normal dogs with epileptic seizures, the underlying aetiology of epileptic seizures in cats that present with normal physical and neurological examinations remains unknown. In this cross‐sectional study, the authors examined MRI findings in a large population of cats with a normal interictal physical and neurological examination. They hypothesised that age would have an impact on the prevalence of detectable lesions. First, following the guidelines for dogs and in accordance with previous studies, the authors divided the cats into three age groups (aged one year or younger, between one and six, and older than six) and calculated the proportion of cats with a detectable lesion on MRI in these groups. In the first group, 3/32 cats (9.4 per cent) had significant MRI abnormalities that were all consistent with congenital malformation; in the second group, only 5/92 (5.4 per cent) MRI scans were abnormal and in the third group, 15/ 65 (23.1 per cent) cats showed abnormal findings that were predominantly lesions of neoplastic origin. Second, to investigate the impact of age further, data were investigated as a continuous variable using receiver operating characteristic analysis. This indicated an optimal cut‐off age of five years, above which MRI abnormalities were more likely, with an increase in the odds of a significant structural lesion increasing by 14 per cent per year.

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“…Nevertheless, we observed significantly more FES in the IdE group (30 %) than the StE group (13 %). Additionally, breeds in our StE group were different (i.e., the majority were small-breed dogs, as mentioned above) compared with previous reports [37–39], which included many large dog breeds such as Boxer, Labrador Retriever, and German Shepherd. In particular, 74.2 % of Boxers presenting with epileptic seizures had asymmetrical brain lesions, and many cases were associated with neoplastic disease [39].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Retrospective epidemiological study of canine epilepsy in Japan using the International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force classification 2015 (2003–2013): etiological distribution, risk factors, survival time, and lifespan

et al. 2016

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BackgroundEpilepsy is the most common neurological disease in veterinary practice. However, contrary to human medicine, epilepsy classification in veterinary medicine had not been clearly defined until recently. A number of reports on canine epilepsy have been published, reflecting in part updated proposals from the human epilepsy organization, the International League Against Epilepsy. In 2015, the International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force (IVETF) published a consensus report on the classification and definition of canine epilepsy. The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the etiological distribution, survival time of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy (IdE) and structural epilepsy (StE), and risk factors for survival time, according to the recently published IVETF classification. We investigated canine cases with epilepsy that were referred to our teaching hospital in Japan during the past 10 years, and which encompassed a different breed population from Western countries.ResultsA total of 358 dogs with epilepsy satisfied our etiological study criteria. Of these, 172 dogs (48 %) were classified as IdE and 76 dogs (21 %) as StE. Of these dogs, 100 dogs (consisting of 65 with IdE and 35 with StE) were included in our survival study. Median survival time from the initial epileptic seizure in dogs with IdE and StE was 10.4 and 4.5 years, respectively. Median lifespan of dogs with IdE and StE was 13.5 and 10.9 years, respectively. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that risk factors for survival time in IdE were high seizure frequency (≥0.3 seizures/month) and focal epileptic seizures.ConclusionsFocal epileptic seizures were identified as a risk factor for survival time in IdE. Clinicians should carefully differentiate seizure type as it is difficult to identify focal epileptic seizures. With good seizure control, dogs with IdE can survive for nearly the same lifespan as the general dog population. Our results using the IVETF classification are similar to previous studies, although some features were noted in our Japanese canine population (which was composed of mainly small-breed dogs), including a longer lifespan in dogs with epilepsy and a larger percentage of meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown origin in dogs with StE.

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An exploratory study using a statistical approach as a platform for clinical reasoning in canine epilepsy

Cited by 33 publications

References 15 publications

Epilepsy beyond seizures: a review of the impact of epilepsy and its comorbidities on health‐related quality of life in dogs

Epilepsy beyond seizures: a review of the impact of epilepsy and its comorbidities on health‐related quality of life in dogs

Magnetic resonance imaging findings in epileptic cats with a normal interictal neurological examination: 188 cases

Retrospective epidemiological study of canine epilepsy in Japan using the International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force classification 2015 (2003–2013): etiological distribution, risk factors, survival time, and lifespan

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