Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
High-field MRI findings in epileptic dogs with a normal inter-ictal neurological examination.
- Journal:
- Frontiers in veterinary science
- Year:
- 2024
- Authors:
- Phillipps, Stephanie & Goncalves, Rita
- Affiliation:
- Small Animal Teaching Hospital · United Kingdom
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Epilepsy is a common long-term brain condition in dogs that causes seizures. In a study of 412 dogs with epilepsy but normal neurological exams, researchers used advanced MRI scans to look for any structural problems in the brain. They found that only a small number of dogs, about 4%, had identifiable issues that could explain their seizures, mostly tumors. The study also showed that older dogs and those with a history of severe seizures were more likely to have these structural problems. Overall, the findings suggest that structural causes of epilepsy are rare in dogs with normal neurological exams.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic neurological conditions affecting dogs. Previous research exploring the likelihood of a structural cause of epilepsy specifically in dogs with a normal inter-ictal examination is limited to a small population of dogs using low-field MRI. The aims of this study were to establish high-field (1.0T and 1.5T) MRI findings in dogs presenting with epileptic seizures and a normal inter-ictal examination. METHODS: Medical records were retrospectively searched for dogs presenting with at least two epileptic seizure events more than 24 h apart. To be included in the study, patients had to have a normal neurological examination, high-field MRI of the brain and have had metabolic and toxic causes excluded. RESULTS: Four hundred and twelve dogs were eligible for inclusion. Crossbreeds were most commonly affected ( = 63, 15.3%) followed by Border collies ( = 39, 9.5%) and Labrador retrievers ( = 26, 6.3%). Seventy-six dogs (18.5%) had abnormalities detected on MRI, 60 (78.9%) of which were considered to be incidental. Overall, 16 dogs (3.9%) had a structural cause of their epileptic seizures including neoplasia ( = 13, 81.3%), anomalous ( = 2, 12.5%) and meningoencephalitis of unknown origin (MUO) ( = 1, 6.3%). When split into age group at first epileptic seizure structural lesions were documented in 0/66 dogs aged <1 year, 4/256 (1.6%) dogs aged ≥1 year ≤6 years (three neoplastic and one anomalous), 3/51 (5.9%) aged >6 years ≤8 years (two neoplastic and one MUO), and 9/39 (23.1%) dogs aged >8 years (eight neoplastic, one anomalous). Multivariate analysis identified two risk factors for structural disease: increasing age at first epileptic seizure ( < 0.001, OR = 4.390, CI 2.338-8.072) and a history of status epilepticus ( = 0.049, OR = 4.389, CI 1.010-19.078). DISCUSSION: Structural lesions are an uncommon cause of epilepsy at any age in dogs with a normal inter-ictal examination.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39881720/