Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Brain scan shows chemical changes in Beagle with Lafora disease
By Alisauskaite, Neringa et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2020·Department of Small Animal Surgery·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Brain proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy findings in a Beagle dog with genetically confirmed Lafora disease.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 6-year-old female Beagle was brought to the vet after having a seizure and experiencing unusual muscle jerking. While standard tests and an MRI of her brain didn't show any issues, a special brain scan called proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed some concerning changes in her brain chemistry. This test showed lower levels of certain brain chemicals compared to healthy dogs, leading to a diagnosis of Lafora disease, a genetic condition that affects the brain. Unfortunately, Lafora disease is progressive, and while the findings helped confirm the diagnosis, there is no cure.
People also search for: Beagle seizure treatment · Lafora disease in dogs · brain scan for dog seizures
Abstract
Cortical atrophy has been identified using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in humans and dogs with Lafora disease (LD). In humans, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1HMRS) of the brain indicates decreased N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) relative to other brain metabolites. Brain 1HMRS findings in dogs with LD are lacking. A 6-year-old female Beagle was presented with a history of a single generalized tonic-clonic seizure and episodic reflex myoclonus. Clinical, hematological, and neurological examination findings and 3-Tesla MRI of the brain were unremarkable. Brain 1HMRS with voxel positioning in the thalamus was performed in the affected Beagle. It identified decreased amounts of NAA, glutamate-glutamine complex, and increased total choline and phosphoethanolamine relative to water and total creatine compared with the reference range in healthy control Beagles. A subsequent genetic test confirmed LD. Abnormalities in 1HMRS despite lack of changes with conventional MRI were identified in a dog with LD.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32418279/