Description:

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition characterized by unpredictable seizures, and it affects both humans and animals. Management of epilepsy is often challenging, especially with Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, which both manifest as early-onset, treatment-resistant epilepsy in young children. Dravet syndrome is thought to affect about 1 in every 22,000-40,000 people (Connolly 2016), but Lennox-Gastaut syndrome is more common, accounting for 1-10% of all childhood epilepsies (Verottti et al. 2018). These conditions are similar to idiopathic epilepsy in canines, which is characterized by recurrent seizures without other abnormalities and may affect up to 5.7% of the pet dog population (McGrath et al. 2019).

Similarities in Humans:

Epileptic syndromes have many similarities between canine and human patients, including clinical presentation, treatments used, and resistance to drugs. Animals and humans experiencing seizures tend to present with similar clinical signs, including confusion, uncontrolled movements, or even loss of consciousness. Similarly, chronic seizure disorders are associated with long-term cognitive dysfunction and behavioral changes in both dogs and humans. The existing treatments available for the management of epileptic syndromes are also mirrored between species as many of the anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) work to modulate the electrical impulses in the brain to prevent or lessen the severity of seizures. Unfortunately, in both humans and dogs, anti-epileptic drugs are often not sufficient to completely control seizures and can have undesirable side-effects, and a different treatment plan is required.

Differences in Humans:

Canine epileptic disorders tend to manifest between the ages of 1 and 5, while Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes are common in childhood, with the onset being under one year of age and between the ages of 2 and 3, respectively. Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome have also both been strongly associated with mutations in the brain, while idiopathic epilepsy in dogs has no known cause but is presumed to have a genetic basis.

Disease Etiology:

Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome have both been associated with mutations affecting the brain, including mutations in genes encoding for ion channels that regulate electric impulses (Connolly 2016; Verotti et al. 2018). While canine idiopathic epilepsy is not yet associated with defined mutations, there are breed-specific predispositions that suggest a genetic basis for the condition (Hülsmeyer et al. 2015).

Clinical Presentation:

The clinical presentation varies slightly between each syndrome. Dravet syndrome typically first presents with hemiclonic seizures (rhythmic jerking affecting one side of the body) and progresses to focal (originated from one part of the brain and affecting part of the body), myoclonic (contractions of muscle groups), or tonic-clonic (stiffening of the body followed by jerking movements) seizures. Lennox-Gastaut syndrome is characterized by tonic seizures (stiffening of the body), atypical absences (when a patient is only somewhat responsive), and drop attacks (complete loss of consciousness). Canine idiopathic epilepsy is typically marked by focal or generalized seizures. Human and canine patients may experience behavioral changes or cognitive dysfunction (resulting in intellectual disabilities in humans) after onset of seizure disorders. 

Treatment:

Canine epileptic disorders are often treated with phenobarbital or potassium bromide, which stabilize neurons and regulate excitatory output in the brain. Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome are often treated using valproic acid or clobazam, but other drugs may be prescribed for treatment of the condition. Even with treatment, many people and dogs still experience seizures that are poorly controlled by medication, so recent studies have sought to elucidate the effect that the addition of CBD to a standard treatment regimen may have on a patient’s seizures (Devinsky et al. 2017; Devinsy et al. 2018; McGrath et al. 2019).