Kutyák epilepsziájának kórélettana, etiológiája, tünetei és kivizsgálási lehetőségei Irodalmi összefoglaló

Abstract

SUMMARY Epilepsy is one of the most common neurologic disorders in dogs. The breed related prevalence can reach up to 5-6 % in the canine population. In the past decade the veterinary availability of several new diagnostic methods has drama tically improved and this has opened new horizons in the diagnostic work up of epileptic dogs. Based on the new scientific results our knowledge about epilepsy has significantly increased. Therefore the aim of the present review is to give an up-to-date overview - regarding to the etiological aspects and diagnostic methods - of canine epilepsy. Currently the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a primary role in the diag nostic work up of different epilepsy syndromes. Since it is the golden standard imaging method to detect morphological changes in the brain, it can effectively support the efforts to achieve a definitive etiological diagnosis. The detection of intracranial structural changes is possible in most of the cases with con ventional MRI methods. The presence of congenital, neoplastic, inflammatory or degenerative brain lesions confirm the diagnosis of symptomatic/secondary epilepsy and differentiate the idiopathic (genetic) and cryptogenic cases. Based on additional laboratory work up the reactive (metabolic or toxic) epilepsy can be separated too. There are several breeds with proved or presumed genetic abnormalities resulting in idiopathic (genetic) epilepsy manifesting mostly up to five years of age. Dogs older than six years without morphological changes in the brain are categorized as having cryptogenic epilepsy, which is also cal led „probably symptomatic epilepsy”. Proper etiological diagnosis and adequate categorization of epilepsy cases help to find the most appropriate therapy which means a huge step forward in the treatment of epileptic dogs. To be able to diagnose even more specific epilepsy syndromes in veterinary medicine, functi onal diagnostic imaging methods, like MR spectroscopy, PET or SPECT examina tions could bring a possible improvement in the f