{"title":"High-field MRI findings in epileptic dogs with a normal inter-ictal neurological examination.","authors":"Stephanie Phillipps, Rita Goncalves","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2024.1507861","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>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.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>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.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Four hundred and twelve dogs were eligible for inclusion. Crossbreeds were most commonly affected (<i>n</i> = 63, 15.3%) followed by Border collies (<i>n</i> = 39, 9.5%) and Labrador retrievers (<i>n</i> = 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 (<i>n</i> = 13, 81.3%), anomalous (<i>n</i> = 2, 12.5%) and meningoencephalitis of unknown origin (MUO) (<i>n</i> = 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 (<i>p</i> < 0.001, OR = 4.390, CI 2.338-8.072) and a history of status epilepticus (<i>p</i> = 0.049, OR = 4.389, CI 1.010-19.078).</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Structural lesions are an uncommon cause of epilepsy at any age in dogs with a normal inter-ictal examination.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"11 ","pages":"1507861"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11775151/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","FirstCategoryId":"97","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1507861","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/1/1 0:00:00","PubModel":"eCollection","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"VETERINARY SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
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 (n = 63, 15.3%) followed by Border collies (n = 39, 9.5%) and Labrador retrievers (n = 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 (n = 13, 81.3%), anomalous (n = 2, 12.5%) and meningoencephalitis of unknown origin (MUO) (n = 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 (p < 0.001, OR = 4.390, CI 2.338-8.072) and a history of status epilepticus (p = 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.
期刊介绍:
Frontiers in Veterinary Science is a global, peer-reviewed, Open Access journal that bridges animal and human health, brings a comparative approach to medical and surgical challenges, and advances innovative biotechnology and therapy.
Veterinary research today is interdisciplinary, collaborative, and socially relevant, transforming how we understand and investigate animal health and disease. Fundamental research in emerging infectious diseases, predictive genomics, stem cell therapy, and translational modelling is grounded within the integrative social context of public and environmental health, wildlife conservation, novel biomarkers, societal well-being, and cutting-edge clinical practice and specialization. Frontiers in Veterinary Science brings a 21st-century approach—networked, collaborative, and Open Access—to communicate this progress and innovation to both the specialist and to the wider audience of readers in the field.
Frontiers in Veterinary Science publishes articles on outstanding discoveries across a wide spectrum of translational, foundational, and clinical research. The journal''s mission is to bring all relevant veterinary sciences together on a single platform with the goal of improving animal and human health.