Clinical efficacy and tolerability of zonisamide monotherapy in dogs with newly diagnosed idiopathic epilepsy: Prospective open-label uncontrolled multicenter trial.

BACKGROUND: Zonisamide (ZNS) is a newer generation antiseizure medication (ASM) used to treat epilepsy in dogs and cats. However, scientific and clinical information, particularly regarding monotherapy, is limited. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the antiseizure efficacy and tolerability of ZNS monotherapy in dogs with newly diagnosed idiopathic epilepsy (IE). ANIMALS: Study included 56 client-owned dogs newly diagnosed with IE. METHODS: This was a prospective multicenter, open-label, uncontrolled study. All dogs were ASM-naïve and had ≥2 seizures within 12 weeks. Dogs were administered 2.7-14.4 mg/kg ZNS PO q12h and followed up for ≥12 weeks. Data from the 12-week maintenance treatment period were compared with those from the 4- to 12-week pretreatment period for efficacy evaluation. Data from the entire ZNS administration period were used to assess tolerability. RESULTS: Fifty-six dogs were included in our study. Of the dogs, 53 were assessed for efficacy; 40 (76%) had a ≥ 50% reduction in seizure frequency, and 29 (55%) achieved seizure freedom. For 90% of the dogs with ≥50% reduction in seizure frequency, the mean ZNS dose was 4.8 (range, 2.7-8.6) mg/kg q12h and the mean trough plasma ZNS concentration was 18.9 (range, 8.0-48.0) µg/mL. In 7 of the 56 dogs (13%), reduced activity, decreased appetite, vomiting, hindlimb weakness, soft stools, or constipation was observed, albeit mild and temporary. Laboratory tests revealed no relevant changes. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Our study suggests that ZNS monotherapy is effective and well-tolerated in dogs with newly diagnosed IE.

CT laparoscopy for detecting small superficial metastatic lesions of the liver surface: initial experience.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of CT laparoscopy in the detection of superficial metastasis of the liver surface. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: From April 1, 2007, to July 1, 2007, a total of 34 consecutively registered patients (19 men, 15 women; median age, 55 years) with various intraabdominal malignant tumors underwent preoperative CT and composed the study population. All patients underwent superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced MRI and portal phase contrast-enhanced 64-MDCT, including CT laparoscopy. CT laparoscopy is a form of volume-rendering 3D imaging of the liver that depicts the liver surface in detail. RESULTS: Among 23 patients who underwent surgery for management of a primary tumor, four patients had seven superficial metastatic lesions of the liver surface. None of these lesions had been detected with preoperative axial CT or superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced MRI. In contrast, CT laparoscopy revealed four of seven lesions in four patients. On a lesion-by-lesion basis, the sensitivity was 57%, the positive predictive value was 100%, and the accuracy was 57%. CONCLUSION: Our initial experience proves that CT laparoscopy is a promising method for detecting small superficial metastatic lesions of the liver surface. The findings can influence decisions regarding tumor resectability.