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Mandigers PJJ, Santifort KM. Remarkable anecdotes illustrating the nature and effect of seizure-precipitating factors in Border Collies with idiopathic epilepsy. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1254279. [PMID: 37781292 PMCID: PMC10538117 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1254279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic neurological syndromes in dogs and has serious implications for the quality of life of both the dogs and owners. Seizure-precipitating factors (SPFs) (also termed "triggers" or "provocative factors") have been studied and reported in both humans and dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. In dogs stress, hormones, sleep deprivation, and the weather have been reported as SPFs. The Border Collie (BC) is a breed of dog that is predisposed to idiopathic epilepsy, and the outcome is often poor. BC is described as a very sensitive dog with a strong focus on their owners, and this may have an influence on their and their owners' stress level. In this article, we described six unrelated BCs with idiopathic epilepsy in which several remarkable SPFs were identified, and avoiding them improved the outcome of these dogs. The possible SPFs were different for each dog. The SPFs were, among others, the other dog in the family, the lack of intellectual challenge, the presence of an autistic child, a busy street, the relation with the owner, and throwing a ball at the beach. These cases illustrate that recognizing the SPF(s) and taking measures with regard to management can lead to a reduction in epileptic seizure frequency or even achieving seizure freedom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J. J. Mandigers
- Evidensia Referral Hospital Arnhem, Arnhem, Netherlands
- Expertise Centre of Genetics, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
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Ur Özçelik E, Lin K, Mameniškienè R, Sauter Dalbem J, Siqueira HH, Samaitienė R, Vega Zeissig LE, Fonseca AF, Mazini Alves J, Dos Santos Lunardi M, de Queiroz LP, Zubavičiūtė E, Wolf P, Baykan B. Perceptions of Modulatory Factors in Migraine and Epilepsy: A Multicenter Study. Front Neurol 2021; 12:672860. [PMID: 34149603 PMCID: PMC8209378 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.672860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Migraine and epilepsy are both common episodic disorders, typically precipitated or inhibited by some modulatory factors (MFs). Objective: To assess the self-perception of MFs in patients with migraine (PWM) compared to patients with epilepsy (PWE) with a standardized protocol in different countries. Methods: Transcultural multicenter comparative cross-sectional study. All consecutive patients who fulfilled the ICHD-3 criteria for migraine and ILAE's criteria for epilepsy, with at least 1 year of follow-up were interviewed with a semi-structured questionnaire on clinical and epidemiological data and were asked to identify all experienced MFs from a provided list. Results: A total of 608 individuals were surveyed at five university referral centers in Brazil, Guatemala, Lithuania and Turkey. Two hundred and nineteen (91.6%) PWM and 305 (82.7%) PWE identified attack precipitating factors (PFs; p < 0.001). The most frequent three PFs reported by epilepsy patients were: "lack of sleep" (56.6%), "emotional stress" (55.3%), "negative feelings" (53.9%), while among migraine patients "emotional stress" (81.6%), "lack of sleep" (77.8%), "negative feelings" (75.7%) were cited. Inhibitory factors (IFs) for the episodes were reported by 68 (28.5%) PWM and 116 (31.4%) PWE. "Darkness" was the most common one, described by 35.6% of PWM whereas "positive feelings" reported by 10.6% of PWE. Most MFs are concordant across the countries but some transcultural differences were noted. Conclusion: The MFs of migraine and epilepsy attacks and their varying frequencies according to different countries were investigated with the same standardized questionnaire, for the first time. MFs were recognized very often in both migraine and epilepsy cohorts, but in distinct disease-specific prevalence, being more frequent in migraine. Recognition of self-perceived MFs may be helpful for the management of both illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emel Ur Özçelik
- Departments of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Katia Lin
- Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | | | - Juiane Sauter Dalbem
- Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil.,Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil
| | - Heloise Helena Siqueira
- Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil.,Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil
| | - Rūta Samaitienė
- Faculty of Medicine, Clinic of Children's Diseases, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | | | | | - Juliana Mazini Alves
- Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | | | - Luiz Paulo de Queiroz
- Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | | | - Peter Wolf
- Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil.,Danish Epilepsy Center, Dianalund, Denmark
| | - Betül Baykan
- Departments of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
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Forsgård JA, Metsähonkala L, Kiviranta AM, Cizinauskas S, Junnila JJT, Laitinen-Vapaavuori O, Jokinen TS. Seizure-precipitating factors in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. J Vet Intern Med 2018; 33:701-707. [PMID: 30576009 PMCID: PMC6430923 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Stress, sleep deprivation, and infectious diseases are important seizure‐precipitating factors in human epilepsy patients. However, these factors have not been thoroughly studied in epileptic dogs. Objective Seizure‐precipitating factors are common in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy and the occurrence of these factors associate with the dogs' signalment, personality, and epilepsy‐related factors. Animals Fifty dogs with diagnosed idiopathic epilepsy from the hospital populations of University Veterinary Teaching Hospital of University of Helsinki and Referral Animal Hospital Aisti. Methods In a retrospective cross‐sectional observational study, owners were interviewed about their dogs' possible seizure‐precipitating factors according to a predefined questionnaire. The dogs were identified and selected by searching the medical records of the participating animal hospitals. Results The prevalence of seizure‐precipitating factors in the study population was 74% (37/50). The most frequently reported factors included stress‐related situations, sleep deprivation, weather, and hormonal factors. In dogs with focal onset seizures, the number of precipitating factors was 1.9 (95% CI 1.1‐3.4) times higher compared to dogs with generalized seizures. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Seizure‐precipitating factors are common in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy, and the nature of these factors is consistent with those of human patients. Aside from antiepileptic medication, acknowledging and avoiding seizure‐precipitating factors could help veterinarians achieve better treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna A Forsgård
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Liisa Metsähonkala
- Pediatric Neurologist, Hospital of Children and Adolescents, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna-Mariam Kiviranta
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | | | - Outi Laitinen-Vapaavuori
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tarja S Jokinen
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Seizure self-prediction: Myth or missed opportunity? Seizure 2017; 51:180-185. [PMID: 28892758 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2017.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Revised: 08/22/2017] [Accepted: 08/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Many patients report being able to predict their own seizures, and yet most seizures appear to strike out of the blue. This inherent contradiction makes the topic of seizure self-prediction controversial as well as difficult to study. Here we review the evidence for whether this ability exists, how many patients are capable of self-prediction and the nature of this capability, and whether this could provide a target for intervention. METHODS Systematic searches of bibliographic databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsycINFO through OVID were performed to identify relevant papers which were then screened by the study authors for inclusion in the study. 18 papers were selected for inclusion as the focus of this review. RESULTS On the basis of two studies, between 17% and 41% of patients demonstrate a significantly greater than chance ability to predict an upcoming seizure in the following 12-h time window. This risk is correlated with self-reported anxiety, stress, sleep deprivation, mood and certain prodromal symptoms. However, there is no evidence for any subjective experience which directly heralds an imminent seizure. Thus, while patients may be aware of seizure risk, and have some ability to predict seizure occurrence over a wide time window, they are unable to subjectively recognise seizure onset in advance. CONCLUSION Utilising subjectively acquired knowledge of seizure risk may provide a widely implementable tool for targeted intervention. The risk fluctuates over a time course appropriate for pharmacotherapy which may improve seizure control and the side-effect profile of anti-epileptic medication.
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McKee HR, Privitera MD. Stress as a seizure precipitant: Identification, associated factors, and treatment options. Seizure 2016; 44:21-26. [PMID: 28063791 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2016.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Revised: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 12/14/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress is a common and important seizure precipitant reported by epilepsy patients. Studies to date have used different methodologies to identify relationships between epilepsy and stress. Several studies have identified anxiety, depression, and childhood trauma as being more common in patients with epilepsy who report stress as a seizure precipitant compared to patients with epilepsy who did not identify stress as a seizure precipitant. In one survey study it was found that a majority of patients with stress-triggered seizures had used some type of stress reduction method on their own and, of those who tried this, an even larger majority felt that these methods improved their seizures. Additionally, small to moderate sized prospective trials, including randomized clinical trials, using general stress reduction methods have shown promise in improving outcomes in patients with epilepsy, but results on seizure frequency have been inconsistent. Based on these studies, we recommend that when clinicians encounter patients who report stress as a seizure precipitant, these patients should be screened for a treatable mood disorder. Furthermore, although seizure reduction with stress reduction methods has not been proven in a randomized controlled trial, other important endpoints like quality of life were improved. Therefore, recommending stress reduction methods to patients with epilepsy appears to be a reasonable low risk adjunctive to standard treatments. The current review highlights the need for future research to help further clarify biological mechanisms of the stress-seizure relationship and emphasizes the need for larger randomized controlled trials to help develop evidence based treatment recommendations for our epilepsy patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather R McKee
- Department of Neurology, Epilepsy Division, UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute, University of Cincinnati Medical Center (0525), 260 Stetson St., Suite 2300, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0525, USA.
| | - Michael D Privitera
- Department of Neurology, Epilepsy Division, UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute, University of Cincinnati Medical Center (0525), 260 Stetson St., Suite 2300, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0525, USA.
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Stanuszek A, Wnękowicz E, Kuźniar E, Krakowska K, Gergont A, Kaciński M. Seizure-Precipitating Factors in Relation to medical Recommendations: Especially Those Limiting Physical Activity. J Child Neurol 2015; 30:1569-73. [PMID: 25808459 DOI: 10.1177/0883073815574334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2014] [Accepted: 01/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Identification of factors precipitating epileptic seizures should always have practical implications and should always result in special recommendations given to patients. The purpose of our study is to analyze the relation between seizure-triggering factors and restrictive recommendations involving limitation of physical activity in particular. The research group consisted of 407 children hospitalized due to seizures. Their precipitants were identified in 27.5% of the patients. The most common included infection/fever, stress, and flashing lights. Although sport was documented as a precipitant in only 3.4% of all children, 8.1% of the investigated group were recommended to limit physical activity. As some episodes of epileptic seizures are reported to be provoked by sport, multiple restrictions are imposed on children. In the light of the worldwide academic literature and the present study, the recommendation of limiting sports activity is no longer supported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Stanuszek
- Students' Research Group at the Chair of Children and Adolescents' Neurology, University Children's Hospital, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Emilia Wnękowicz
- Students' Research Group at the Chair of Children and Adolescents' Neurology, University Children's Hospital, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Ewelina Kuźniar
- Students' Research Group at the Chair of Children and Adolescents' Neurology, University Children's Hospital, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Karolina Krakowska
- Students' Research Group at the Chair of Children and Adolescents' Neurology, University Children's Hospital, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Gergont
- Chair of Children and Adolescents' Neurology, University Children's Hospital, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Marek Kaciński
- Chair of Children and Adolescents' Neurology, University Children's Hospital, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
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Seizure precipitants in a community-based epilepsy cohort. J Neurol 2014; 261:717-24. [DOI: 10.1007/s00415-014-7252-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2013] [Accepted: 01/15/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Michaelis R, Schonfeld W, Elsas SM. Trigger self-control and seizure arrest in the Andrews/Reiter behavioral approach to epilepsy: a retrospective analysis of seizure frequency. Epilepsy Behav 2012; 23:266-71. [PMID: 22341960 PMCID: PMC3307913 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2011.11.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2011] [Revised: 11/11/2011] [Accepted: 11/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this retrospective study is to describe changes of seizure frequency in epilepsy patients who participated in the Andrews/Reiter behavioral intervention for epilepsy. For this uncontrolled retrospective study, data were extracted from patients' medical journals. Intention-to-treat-analyses were restricted to patients with sufficient documentation supporting a diagnosis of probable or definite epilepsy. Main outcome variable was a comparison of mean seizure frequency at baseline and toward completion of the program. The seizure frequency of 30 (50%) patients showed a clinically meaningful improvement (>50% reduction of seizures) toward the end of the intervention. Twenty-two (37%) patients became seizure-free at the end of the intervention. In summary, a clinically meaningful reduction in reported seizure frequency was observed in epilepsy patients who received the Andrews/Reiter intervention for epilepsy. Prospective trials are needed to further investigate the program's efficacy and to study epileptic seizure triggers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Michaelis
- School of Medicine, Private University Witten Herdecke, 58448 Witten, Germany.
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Abstract
Using separate generalized mixed-effects models, we assessed seizure recall and prediction, as well as contributing diagnostic variables, in 83 adult patients with epilepsy undergoing video/EEG monitoring. The model revealed that when participants predicted a seizure, probability equaled 0.320 (95% CI: 0.149-0.558), a significant (P<0.05) increase over negative predictions (0.151, 95% CI: 0.71-0.228]). With no seizure, the rate of remembering was approximately 0.130 (95% CI: 0.73-0.219), increasing significantly to 0.628 (95% CI: 0.439 to 0.784) when a seizure occurred (P<0.001). Of the variables analyzed, only inpatient seizure rate influenced predictability (P<0.001) or recollection (P<0.001). These models reveal that patients were highly aware of their seizures, and in many cases, were able to make accurate predictions, for which seizure rate may be an important factor.
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