Open AccessAbsence Seizures as a Feature of Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy in Rhodesian Ridgeback Dogs
Author(s) -
Wielaender F.,
James F.M.K.,
Cortez M.A.,
Kluger G.,
Neßler J.N.,
Tipold A.,
Lohi H.,
Fischer A.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of veterinary internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.356
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1939-1676
pISSN - 0891-6640
DOI - 10.1111/jvim.14892
Subject(s) - juvenile myoclonic epilepsy , myoclonic jerk , medicine , electroencephalography , levetiracetam , epilepsy , myoclonic epilepsy , myoclonus , spike and wave , anesthesia , proband , pediatrics , audiology , psychiatry , biochemistry , chemistry , mutation , gene
Myoclonic epilepsy in Rhodesian Ridgeback (RR) dogs is characterized by myoclonic seizures occurring mainly during relaxation periods, a juvenile age of onset and generalized tonic‐clonic seizures in one‐third of patients. An 8‐month‐old female intact RR was presented for myoclonic seizures and staring episodes that both started at 10 weeks of age. Testing for the DIRAS 1 variant indicated a homozygous mutant genotype. Unsedated wireless video‐electroencephalography ( EEG ) identified frequent, bilaterally synchronous, generalized 4 Hz spike‐and‐wave complexes (SWC) during the staring episodes in addition to the characteristic myoclonic seizures with generalized 4–5 Hz SWC or 4–5 Hz slowing. Photic stimulation did not evoke a photoparoxysmal response. Repeat video‐ EEG 2 months after initiation of levetiracetam treatment disclosed a >95% decrease in frequency of myoclonic seizures, and absence seizures were no longer evident. Absence seizures represent another seizure type in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) in RR dogs, which reinforces its parallels to JME in humans.