Pages

Showing posts with label seizure. Show all posts
Showing posts with label seizure. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Seizures in Cats with FIP

Timmann, D., S. Cizinauskas, et al. (2008). "Retrospective analysis of seizures associated with feline infectious peritonitis in cats." J Feline Med Surg 10(1): 9-15.

Seizures have been reported frequently in feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) but have not been studied in detail in association with this disease. The purpose of this study was to perform a retrospective analysis of neurological signs in a population of 55 cats with a histopathologically confirmed neurological form of FIP. Seizure patterns were determined and it was attempted to relate occurrence of seizures with age, breed, sex and neuropathological features. Fourteen cats had seizure(s), while 41 cats had no history of seizure(s). Generalised tonic-clonic seizures were seen in nine cats; and complex focal seizures were observed in four patients. The exact type of seizure could not be determined in one cat. Status epilepticus was observed in one patient but seizure clusters were not encountered. Occurrence of seizures was not related to age, sex, breed or intensity of the inflammation in the central nervous system. However, seizures were significantly more frequent in animals with marked extension of the inflammatory lesions to the forebrain (P=0.038). Thus, the occurrence of seizures in FIP indicates extensive brain damage and can, therefore, be considered to be an unfavourable prognostic sign.
>>PubMed abstract

Related articles:
Winn funded research
Foley, J., C. Rand, et al. (2003). "Inflammation and changes in cytokine levels in neurological feline infectious peritonitis." J Fel Med Surg 5(6): 313-322.
>>PubMed abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Timmann, D., S. Cizinauskas, et al. (2008). "Retrospective analysis of seizures associated with feline infectious peritonitis in cats." J Feline Med Surg 10(1): 9-15.

Seizures have been reported frequently in feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) but have not been studied in detail in association with this disease. The purpose of this study was to perform a retrospective analysis of neurological signs in a population of 55 cats with a histopathologically confirmed neurological form of FIP. Seizure patterns were determined and it was attempted to relate occurrence of seizures with age, breed, sex and neuropathological features. Fourteen cats had seizure(s), while 41 cats had no history of seizure(s). Generalised tonic-clonic seizures were seen in nine cats; and complex focal seizures were observed in four patients. The exact type of seizure could not be determined in one cat. Status epilepticus was observed in one patient but seizure clusters were not encountered. Occurrence of seizures was not related to age, sex, breed or intensity of the inflammation in the central nervous system. However, seizures were significantly more frequent in animals with marked extension of the inflammatory lesions to the forebrain (P=0.038). Thus, the occurrence of seizures in FIP indicates extensive brain damage and can, therefore, be considered to be an unfavourable prognostic sign.
>>PubMed abstract

Related articles:
Winn funded research
Foley, J., C. Rand, et al. (2003). "Inflammation and changes in cytokine levels in neurological feline infectious peritonitis." J Fel Med Surg 5(6): 313-322.
>>PubMed abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Read More


Thursday, April 3, 2008

Levetiracetam for Epilepsy in Cats

Bailey, K. S., C. W. Dewey, et al. (2008). "Levetiracetam as an adjunct to phenobarbital treatment in cats with suspected idiopathic epilepsy." J Am Vet Med Assoc 232(6): 867-72.

Levetiracetam (Keppra, UCB Pharma) is an anticonvulsant medication licensed for the treatment of epilepsy in humans. Anecdotally, it has been used as adjunctive therapy for epilepsy in dogs and cats. The goal of this study was to assess the pharmacokinetics, efficacy and adverse effects of oral levetiracetam administered in conjunction with phenobarbital in cats with poorly controlled epilepsy. The study was designed as an open-label, noncomparative clinical trial. Twelve cats with epilepsy poorly controlled by phenobarbital or that had unacceptable adverse effects from phenobarbital were enrolled in the study. The cats were treated with levetiracetam at 20 mg/kg every 8 hours. Serum drug levels were measured after at least 1 week of treatment. Seizure frequency before and after initiation of therapy were compared, and any adverse effects were recorded. The median serum half-life for levetiracetam was 2.9 hours. Seizure frequency was significantly higher prior to treatment with levetiracetam (2.1 seizures/month versus 0.42 seizures/month). Seven of 10 cats had reduction in seizure frequency of equal to or greater than 50%. Two cats had transient lethargy and anorexia. The researchers conclude that levetiracetam is well tolerated in cats, and may be a useful adjunct therapy to phenobarbital for cats with idiopathic epilepsy.
>> PubMed abstract

Related articles:
Dewey, C. W. (2006). "Anticonvulsant therapy in dogs and cats." Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 36(5): 1107-27, vii.
>> PubMed abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Bailey, K. S., C. W. Dewey, et al. (2008). "Levetiracetam as an adjunct to phenobarbital treatment in cats with suspected idiopathic epilepsy." J Am Vet Med Assoc 232(6): 867-72.

Levetiracetam (Keppra, UCB Pharma) is an anticonvulsant medication licensed for the treatment of epilepsy in humans. Anecdotally, it has been used as adjunctive therapy for epilepsy in dogs and cats. The goal of this study was to assess the pharmacokinetics, efficacy and adverse effects of oral levetiracetam administered in conjunction with phenobarbital in cats with poorly controlled epilepsy. The study was designed as an open-label, noncomparative clinical trial. Twelve cats with epilepsy poorly controlled by phenobarbital or that had unacceptable adverse effects from phenobarbital were enrolled in the study. The cats were treated with levetiracetam at 20 mg/kg every 8 hours. Serum drug levels were measured after at least 1 week of treatment. Seizure frequency before and after initiation of therapy were compared, and any adverse effects were recorded. The median serum half-life for levetiracetam was 2.9 hours. Seizure frequency was significantly higher prior to treatment with levetiracetam (2.1 seizures/month versus 0.42 seizures/month). Seven of 10 cats had reduction in seizure frequency of equal to or greater than 50%. Two cats had transient lethargy and anorexia. The researchers conclude that levetiracetam is well tolerated in cats, and may be a useful adjunct therapy to phenobarbital for cats with idiopathic epilepsy.
>> PubMed abstract

Related articles:
Dewey, C. W. (2006). "Anticonvulsant therapy in dogs and cats." Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 36(5): 1107-27, vii.
>> PubMed abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Read More