Juvenile idiopathic epilepsy in Egyptian Arabian foals, a potential animal model of self-limited epilepsy in children.

BACKGROUND: Juvenile idiopathic epilepsy (JIE) is categorized as a generalized epilepsy. Epilepsy classification entails electrocortical characterization and localization of epileptic discharges (ED) using electroencephalography (EEG). HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Characterize epilepsy in Egyptian Arabian foals with JIE using EEG. ANIMALS: Sixty-nine foals (JIE, 48; controls, 21). METHODS: Retrospective study. Inclusion criteria consisted of Egyptian Arabian foals: (1) JIE group diagnosed based on witnessed or recorded seizures, and neurological and EEG findings, and (2) control group of healthy nonepileptic age-matched foals. Clinical data were obtained in 48 foals. Electroencephalography with photic stimulation was performed under standing sedation in 37 JIE foals and 21 controls. RESULTS: Abnormalities on EEG were found in 95% of epileptic foals (35 of 37) and in 3 of 21 control asymptomatic foals with affected siblings. Focal ED were detected predominantly in the central vertex with diffusion into the centroparietal or frontocentral regions (n = 35). Generalization of ED occurred in 14 JIE foals. Epileptic discharges commonly were seen during wakefulness (n = 27/37 JIE foals) and sedated sleep (n = 35/37 JIE foals; 3/21 controls). Photic stimulation triggered focal central ED in 15 of 21 JIE foals. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Juvenile idiopathic epilepsy has a focal onset of ED at the central vertex with spread resulting in clinical generalized tonic-clonic seizures with facial motor activity and loss of consciousness. Electroencephalography with photic stimulation contributes to accurate phenotyping of epilepsy. Foals with this benign self-limiting disorder might serve as a naturally occurring animal model for self-limited epilepsy in children.

Electroencephalographic evaluation under standing sedation using sublingual detomidine hydrochloride in Egyptian Arabian foals for investigation of epilepsy.

BACKGROUND: A standardized protocol for electroencephalography (EEG) under standing sedation for the investigation of epilepsy in foals is needed. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To evaluate a modified standardized EEG protocol under standing sedation using sublingual detomidine hydrochloride in Egyptian Arabian foals. ANIMALS: Nineteen foals (controls, 9; juvenile idiopathic epilepsy [JIE], 10). METHODS: Descriptive clinical study. Foals were classified as controls or epileptic based on history or witnessed seizures and neurological examination. Foals were sedated using sublingual detomidine hydrochloride at a dosage of 0.08 mg/kg to avoid stress associated with injectable sedation. Once foals appeared sedated with their heads low to the ground and with wide base stance (30 minutes), topical lidocaine hydrochloride was applied at the determined locations of EEG electrodes. Fifteen minutes were allowed for absorption and electrodes were placed, protected, and EEG recording performed. RESULTS: Level of sedation was considered excellent with no need of redosing. The EEG recording lasted from 27 to 51 minutes and provided interpretable data. Epileptic discharges (ED) were noted predominantly in the central-parietal region in 9 of 10 epileptic foals. Photic stimulation triggered ED in 7 of 10 epileptic foals and in none of the controls. Foals were not oversedated and recovered uneventfully. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Sublingual detomidine hydrochloride is a safe, painless, simple, and effective method of sedation for EEG recording in foals. Sublingual sedation allowed the investigation of cerebral electrical activity during states of sleep and arousal, and during photic stimulation for the investigation of epilepsy in foals.

Landscape of childhood epilepsies - A multi-ethnic population-based study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical features of childhood epilepsy in Qatar. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional chart review analysis was conducted at the only tertiary pediatric hospital in Qatar in 1422 patients with epilepsy followed between November 2016 and October 2019. RESULTS: 55% (781) were males and 70% were non-Qatari. Age of epilepsy onset was in the neonatal period in 9% (114/1207 patients). In the non-neonatal cohort, mean age of onset was 4 yrs 9mos ( ± 1.4mos). Focal epilepsy was the predominant epilepsy type in 45% (594/1314 patients) versus generalized epilepsy in 37% and combined focal/generalized epilepsy in 12%. Etiology was unknown in most children (782/1363, 57%) whereas structural and genetic causes represented 23% and 11% of cases respectively. No differences in epilepsy type and etiology were found between different ethnic groups. Children with genetic or structural epilepsies had an earlier epilepsy onset compared to those with unknown etiologies. At the last follow up, only 36% of patients were seizure-free and 12% (170/1422) had a history of status epilepticus. Medically refractory epilepsy was found in 37% (527/1407) of patients, with the most common etiologies being unknown (36%) and structural (37%). Neurodevelopmental co-morbidities were present in most patients (62%), with global developmental delay (47%) and learning/school difficulties (22%) being the most prevalent. 94% of patients with somatic co-morbidities had concomitant neurodevelopmental co-morbidities. Risk factors associated with an increased risk of co-morbidities and intractable epilepsy included early age of epilepsy onset (< 2 years of age); etiology; antenatal risk factors; history of previous central nervous system infection; history of status epilepticus and a family history of consanguinity and epilepsy. SIGNIFICANCE: This large multi-ethnic population-based study confirms that the prevalence, incidence and clinical features of epilepsy in Qatar is in accordance with other epidemiologic studies and highlights risk factors for the development of co-morbidities and medically-intractable epilepsy.