Crises epilépticas reativas por hiperlipidemia em cão Maltês / Reactive seizures due to hyperlipidemia in a maltese dog

ABSTRACT

Background: Primary hyperlipidemia is a condition that affects some specific breeds. It has been previously describedin Miniature Shnauzer, Beagles, Shetland Shepdog and West Highland White Terrier. There are no reports of primaryhyperlipidemia in Maltese dogs. It is a hereditary disorder of lipoprotein metabolism. The etiology is unknown and maybe related to a genetic problem in lipoprotein lipase or to the absence of apaprotein CII. Clinical signs include spontaneousarterosclerosis, retinal lipemia, cutaneous xanthomas, abdominal pain, lethargy, vomiting and / or diarrhea. Neurologicalmanifestations such as seizures and behavioral changes may also occur. The aim of this report is to describe a case ofreactive seizures due to hyperlipidemia in a dog.Case A 5-year-old male Maltese dog was admitted with a history of seizures. Hypertension and abdominal distensionwith large amounts of intestinal gases were found in general physical examination. Neurological examination revealedimpaired nasal septum sensory perception, which was slightly bilaterally reduced, and pain on cervical palpation and inthe brachial plexus region. Based on history and clinical examination, it was possible to locate the lesion in the thalamocortical region and to suspect idiopathic epilepsy, reactive seizures, and symptomatic epilepsy due to meningoencephalitisof unknown origin. The diagnosis of primary hyperlipidemia was made by exclusion with the aid of laboratory tests andultrasound. After the establishment of a fat restriction diet, bezafibrate, phenobarbital, and omega-3 supplementation, theanimal improved significantly with the reduction of epileptic seizures.Discussion: The initial clinical suspicion was hyperadrenocorticism as the primary cause of hyperlipidemia. This suspicion was based on the presence of polyphagia, polydipsia, polyuria and abdominal distension, together with laboratory...