Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
EEG Patterns Orienting to Lafora Disease Diagnosis-A Case Report in Two Beagles.
- Journal:
- Frontiers in veterinary science
- Year:
- 2020
- Authors:
- Demeny, Helga et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Preclinical and Clinical Sciences
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Lafora Disease is a rare and serious condition that affects both humans and dogs, including beagles. It usually causes seizures and sudden muscle jerks, which can involve the neck and limbs. In this study, researchers looked at the brain activity of two beagles using a test called an electroencephalogram (EEG) and found unusual patterns that matched the signs of Lafora Disease. Genetic testing later confirmed the diagnosis for both dogs. This research shows that EEG can be a helpful tool for diagnosing Lafora Disease in dogs.
Abstract
Lafora Disease (LD) is a rare, fatal, late-onset, progressive form of myoclonic epilepsy, occurring in humans and dogs. Clinical manifestations of LD usually include seizures, spontaneous and reflex myoclonus with contractions of the neck and limb muscles. We studied the electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns of two beagles in whom LD was subsequently confirmed by genetic testing. In both cases, the EEG recordings, accompanied by electromyography (EMG), have shown similar uncommon patterns. The hypovoltaged background rhythm was interrupted by waxing "crescendo" polyspikes-slow wave complexes appearing 80-250 ms after the start of intermittent photic stimulation, followed by myoclonic jerks after 80-150 ms. This study highlights the value of EEG in establishing a presumptive diagnosis of LD in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33251270/