Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Terminology and classification of seizures and epilepsy in veterinary patients.
- Journal:
- Topics in companion animal medicine
- Year:
- 2013
- Authors:
- Mariani, Christopher L
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Sciences · United States
Plain-English summary
The way we classify seizures and epilepsy in pets is still being developed, and there isn't a widely accepted system specifically for animals yet. While there are established methods for humans, veterinarians have been trying to adapt these to better understand and treat seizures in pets. This review discusses the existing human classification systems and how they might apply to animals, proposing a new set of definitions and terms for veterinarians to use. The goal is to create a clear way for vets to communicate about seizures, which could help in treatment planning and understanding what to expect for pets with these conditions. This work is just the beginning of a conversation that could lead to a more formal system in the future.
Abstract
The classification of epileptic seizures and epilepsy is a controversial and dynamic topic that has undergone many iterations in human medicine. The International League against Epilepsy is a multinational organization that has formed a number of task forces and subcommittees to study this issue, and has ratified several reports outlining recommended terminology and classification schemes for human patients. Veterinary publications on this issue have generally adapted these schemes to fit small animal patients, but a formally endorsed system to classify seizures and epilepsy has never been developed for veterinary patients. This review outlines the classification systems that have been published for human patients and summarizes previous efforts by veterinary authors to utilize these methods. Finally, a set of definitions and terminology for use in veterinary patients is proposed, which includes a glossary of descriptive terminology for ictal semiology and a diagnostic scheme for classification of individual patients. This document is intended as a starting point of discussion, which will hopefully eventually result in a formally ratified document that will be useful for communication between health professionals, the design of clinical trials and for guiding treatment decisions and prognostication for veterinary patients with seizures.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24070679/