Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Absence Seizures as a Feature of Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy in Rhodesian Ridgeback Dogs.
- Journal:
- Journal of veterinary internal medicine
- Year:
- 2018
- Authors:
- Wielaender, F et al.
- Affiliation:
- Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine · Germany
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A young female Rhodesian Ridgeback, just 8 months old, was brought in because she had been having myoclonic seizures, which are quick muscle jerks, and episodes where she would stare blankly. These symptoms began when she was only 10 weeks old. Testing showed she had a specific genetic variant linked to this condition. After starting treatment with a medication called levetiracetam, her myoclonic seizures decreased by over 95%, and the staring episodes stopped completely. This case highlights that Rhodesian Ridgebacks can experience absence seizures, similar to a condition seen in humans called juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.
Abstract
Myoclonic epilepsy in Rhodesian Ridgeback (RR) dogs is characterized by myoclonic seizures occurring mainly during relaxation periods, a juvenile age of onset and generalized tonic-clonic seizures in one-third of patients. An 8-month-old female intact RR was presented for myoclonic seizures and staring episodes that both started at 10 weeks of age. Testing for the DIRAS1 variant indicated a homozygous mutant genotype. Unsedated wireless video-electroencephalography (EEG) identified frequent, bilaterally synchronous, generalized 4 Hz spike-and-wave complexes (SWC) during the staring episodes in addition to the characteristic myoclonic seizures with generalized 4-5 Hz SWC or 4-5 Hz slowing. Photic stimulation did not evoke a photoparoxysmal response. Repeat video-EEG 2 months after initiation of levetiracetam treatment disclosed a >95% decrease in frequency of myoclonic seizures, and absence seizures were no longer evident. Absence seizures represent another seizure type in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) in RR dogs, which reinforces its parallels to JME in humans.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29194766/