Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Response to Levetiracetam Treatment and Long-Term Follow-Up in Dogs With Reactive Seizures Due to Probable Exogenous Toxicity.
- Journal:
- Frontiers in veterinary science
- Year:
- 2021
- Authors:
- Stabile, Fabio & De Risio, Luisa
- Affiliation:
- Neurology and Neurosurgery Unit · United Kingdom
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
This study looked at 13 dogs that had seizures likely caused by exposure to toxins and how they responded to a medication called levetiracetam. Each dog received a high initial dose of the medication, followed by regular doses every few hours. After six months without any seizures, the medication was gradually reduced and eventually stopped, with no dogs experiencing any seizures afterward. The dogs were followed for an average of over six years, and there were no reported side effects from the treatment. The findings suggest that levetiracetam is effective for treating these types of seizures and that long-term medication may not be necessary once the seizures are controlled.
Abstract
Limited information is available on the long-term follow-up and seizure recurrence in dogs with reactive seizures due to suspected exogenous toxicity. The purpose of this study was to report the long-term follow-up of 13 dogs referred to a single referral hospital, diagnosed with reactive seizures and treated with a standardized levetiracetam protocol. All dogs received a loading levetiracetam dose of 60 mg/kg/IV once, followed by a maintenance dose of 20 mg/kg every 8 h as part of an open-label clinical study. Levetiracetam was withdrawn after a 6-months seizure-free period by reducing levetiracetam to 20 mg/kg every 12 h for a 4-week seizure-free period, followed by levetiracetam 20 mg/kg every 24 h for a 4-week seizure-free period, before levetiracetam treatment was stopped. No adverse effects of the treatment were reported. No dogs experienced any seizures after discharge or after levetiracetam withdrawal. Median follow-up time from time of discharge was of 78 months (=6 years 6 months). The result of this study supports the use of levetiracetam for treatment of reactive seizures due to exogenous substance intoxication. Moreover, our results do not support the need for long-term antiepileptic treatment in cases of reactive seizures due to exogenous intoxication.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34869747/