Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Seizure causes and outcomes in 91 cats studied 2000-2004
By Schriefl, Simone et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2008·Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Etiologic classification of seizures, signalment, clinical signs, and outcome in cats with seizure disorders: 91 cases (2000-2004).
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 91 cats with seizure disorders was studied to understand the causes and outcomes of their seizures. The cats were classified into different groups based on the cause of their seizures: reactive (due to an external factor), symptomatic (due to an underlying condition), or idiopathic (unknown cause). It was found that younger cats (average age 3.5 years) had idiopathic seizures and tended to live longer than older cats with reactive or symptomatic seizures. The survival rates varied, with 82% of cats with idiopathic seizures surviving for at least a year, compared to only 50% of those with reactive seizures and 16% with symptomatic seizures.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate associations among etiologic classifications of seizures and signalment, clinical signs, and outcome in cats with various seizure disorders. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 91 cats evaluated for seizure disorders at a veterinary teaching hospital from 2000 through 2004. PROCEDURES: Data regarding characteristics of the cats and their seizures were obtained from medical records. Seizures were classified as reactive, symptomatic, or idiopathic. Survival times were displayed as Kaplan-Meier curves, and differences between etiologic classifications were assessed by log-rank test. RESULTS: Over the 5-year period, the incidence of seizures among all cats evaluated at the hospital was 2.1%. Etiology was classified as reactive in 20 (22%) cats, symptomatic in 45 (50%), idiopathic or presumptive idiopathic in 23 (25%), and cardiac syncope in 3 (3%). Focal seizures with or without secondary generalization were recorded for 47 (52%) cats, and primary generalized seizures with or without status epilepticus were recorded for 44 (48%). Etiology was not associated with seizure type. However, mean age of cats with idiopathic seizures (3.5 years) was significantly lower than that of cats with reactive seizures (8.2 years) or symptomatic seizures (8.1 years). The 1-year survival rate for cats with idiopathic seizures (0.82) was longer than that for cats with reactive (0.50) or symptomatic (0.16) seizures. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Seizure etiology was symptomatic or reactive in most cats. Underlying disease was not associated with seizure type. Cats with idiopathic seizures lived longer than did cats with reactive or symptomatic seizures but were also younger.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19014293/