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Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery logoLink to Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
. 2010 Dec 1;12(12):910–916. doi: 10.1016/j.jfms.2010.07.001

Clinical comparison of primary versus secondary epilepsy in 125 cats

Ákos Pákozdy 1, Michael Leschnik 2, Ali Asghar Sarchahi 3, Alexander G Tichy 4, Johann G Thalhammer 5
PMCID: PMC11135544  PMID: 20822944

Abstract

In the present study 125 cats with recurrent seizures were analysed. The main goal was to investigate the aetiology and compare primary epilepsy (PE) with secondary epilepsy (SE) regarding signalment, history, ictal pattern, clinical and neurological findings. Seizure aetiology was classified as PE in 47 (38%) and SE in 78 (62%) cats. SE was caused mainly by intracranial neoplasia (16), hippocampal necrosis (14), toxicosis (eight), and encephalitis (seven). A significant difference between PE and SE was found in: age, body weight, duration of seizure, occurrence of status epilepticus and neurological deficits. Status epilepticus, altered interictal neurological status and seizure onset over the age of 7 years indicated SE more frequently than PE. If the seizures occurred during resting conditions and rapid running occurred the aetiology was more likely to be PE than SE.

Contributor Information

Ákos Pákozdy, Clinic for Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine, Neurology Service, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Vienna, Austria  akos.pakozdy@vetmeduni.ac.at.

Michael Leschnik, Clinic for Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine, Neurology Service, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Vienna, Austria.

Ali Asghar Sarchahi, Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Iran.

Alexander G. Tichy, Institute of Physics and Biostatistics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria

Johann G. Thalhammer, Clinic for Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine, Neurology Service, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Vienna, Austria

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