title: Treatment and long-term follow-up of cats with suspected primary epilepsy.
abstract: We report an evaluation of the treatment and outcome of cats with suspected primary epilepsy. Phenobarbital therapy was used alone or in combination with other anti-epileptic drugs. Outcome after treatment was evaluated mainly on the basis of number of seizures per year and categorised into four groups: seizure-free, good control (1-5 seizures per year), moderate control (6-10 seizures per year) and poor control (more than 10 seizures per year). About 40-50% of cases became seizure-free, 20-30% were considered good-to-moderately controlled and about 30% were poorly controlled depending on the year of treatment considered. The duration of seizure events after treatment decreased in 26/36 cats and was unchanged in eight cats. The subjective severity of seizure also decreased in 25 cats and was unchanged in nine cats. Twenty-six cats had a good quality of life, nine cats an impaired quality of life and one cat a bad quality of life. Despite being free of seizures for years, cessation of treatment may lead to recurrence of seizures in most cats.
authors.affiliation: Department for Companion Animals and Horses, Small Animal Clinic, Internal Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria. akos.pakozdy@vetmeduni.ac.at
authors.forename: Akos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pakozdy
authors.forename: Ali Asghar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Sarchahi
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leschnik
authors.forename: Alexander G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Tichy
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Halasz
authors.forename: Johann G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Thalhammer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002415:Cats; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants