Phillipps, Stephanie 
ORCID: 0000-0002-8061-4007 and Goncalves, Rita ORCID: 0000-0001-5420-9801
(2024)
High-field MRI findings in epileptic dogs with a normal inter-ictal neurological examination.
Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 11.
1507861-.
ISSN 2297-1769, 2297-1769
Abstract
<jats:sec><jats:title>Introduction</jats:title><jats:p>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.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>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.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>Four hundred and twelve dogs were eligible for inclusion. Crossbreeds were most commonly affected (<jats:italic>n</jats:italic> = 63, 15.3%) followed by Border collies (<jats:italic>n</jats:italic> = 39, 9.5%) and Labrador retrievers (<jats:italic>n</jats:italic> = 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 (<jats:italic>n</jats:italic> = 13, 81.3%), anomalous (<jats:italic>n</jats:italic> = 2, 12.5%) and meningoencephalitis of unknown origin (MUO) (<jats:italic>n</jats:italic> = 1, 6.3%). When split into age group at first epileptic seizure structural lesions were documented in 0/66 dogs aged &lt;1 year, 4/256 (1.6%) dogs aged ≥1 year ≤6 years (three neoplastic and one anomalous), 3/51 (5.9%) aged &gt;6 years ≤8 years (two neoplastic and one MUO), and 9/39 (23.1%) dogs aged &gt;8 years (eight neoplastic, one anomalous). Multivariate analysis identified two risk factors for structural disease: increasing age at first epileptic seizure (<jats:italic>p</jats:italic> &lt; 0.001, OR = 4.390, CI 2.338–8.072) and a history of status epilepticus (<jats:italic>p</jats:italic> = 0.049, OR = 4.389, CI 1.010–19.078).</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Discussion</jats:title><jats:p>Structural lesions are an uncommon cause of epilepsy at any age in dogs with a normal inter-ictal examination.</jats:p></jats:sec>
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | MRI, dog, epilepsy, inter-ictal, normal, structural |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 24 Jan 2025 14:31 |
| Last Modified: | 15 Feb 2025 03:14 |
| DOI: | 10.3389/fvets.2024.1507861 |
| Open Access URL: | https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1507861 |
| Related Websites: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3189868 |
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