Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Nonconvulsive seizures in dogs and cats with cluster seizures
By Tästensen, Carina et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2024·Department for Small Animals, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Prevalence of nonconvulsive seizures and nonconvulsive status epilepticus in dogs and cats with a history of cluster seizures: A retrospective study.
Plain-English summary
A group of 26 dogs and 12 cats with a history of cluster seizures underwent special brain wave tests (EEG) to check for nonconvulsive seizures (NCS) and nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE). The tests revealed that nearly 30% of these pets had NCS, while 16% experienced NCSE, which can be hard to notice without monitoring. Many of the pets showed decreased awareness, and unfortunately, the survival rates were much lower for those with these conditions compared to those without seizure activity detected. This highlights the importance of EEG testing in pets with cluster seizures to catch these serious issues early.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Nonconvulsive seizures (NCS) and nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) are frequently observed in human patients. Diagnosis of NCS and NCSE only can be achieved by the use of electroencephalography (EEG). Electroencephalographic monitoring is rare in veterinary medicine and consequently there is limited data on frequency of NCS and NCSE. OBJECTIVES: Determine the prevalence of NCS and NCSE in dogs and cats with a history of cluster seizures. ANIMALS: Twenty-six dogs and 12 cats. METHODS: Retrospective study. Medical records of dogs and cats with cluster seizures were reviewed. Electroencephalography was performed in order to identify electrographic seizure activity after the apparent cessation of convulsive seizure activity. RESULTS: Nonconvulsive seizures were detected in 9 dogs and 2 cats out of the 38 patients (29%). Nonconvulsive status epilepticus was detected in 4 dogs and 2 cats (16%). Five patients had both NCS and NCSE. A decreased level of consciousness was evident in 6/11 patients with NCS, 3/6 also had NCSE. Mortality rate for patients with NCS (73%) and NCSE (67%) was much higher than that for patients with no seizure activity on EEG (27%). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Prevalence of NCS and NCSE is high in dogs and cats with a history of cluster seizures. Nonconvulsive seizures and NCSE are difficult to detect clinically and are associated with higher in hospital mortality rates. Results indicate that prompt EEG monitoring should be performed in dogs and cats with cluster seizures.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38006289/