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Published: 22/10/2015 14:24:02

diagnosis, TREATMENT and research into epilepsy improved by International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force

Epilepsy is extremely broad and one of the most common diseases diagnosed in dogs and cats. However, despite a vast amount of research, a lack of standardisation in definitions and neuroimaging, used in research, has led to a lack of consistency in research practices and understanding. This has made drawing comparisons from various research projects difficult, and has restricted the ability of pet owners and vets to communicate adequately about pet epilepsy.

The International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force (IVETF), made up of 26 veterinary practitioner, neuropharmacology, neuropathology and neurology experts from around the world, including the AHT’s Head of Neurology, Dr Luisa De Risio, aims to help overcome this issue by standardising epilepsy research, diagnosis and treatment for the first time in veterinary medicine.

The task force, set up in 2014, has published seven consensus statements outlining a common language to be used in the chain of care of canine and feline epilepsy. This includes guidelines to improve care for dog and catss being treated for epilepsy and a detailed framework and standards for future research and trials, to help push epilepsy research and understanding forward.

The AHT’s Dr Luisa De Risio said: ““It is an honour and a privilege to be part of the International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force and I hope this will have a phenomenal impact on epilepsy research and knowledge on an international level. In turn, this should help the veterinary profession advance epilepsy treatment practices much more effectively, resulting in better care for many animals affected by epilepsy.

“The consensus statements outline a number of recommendations on all aspects of the condition. This is really important as it is the first time this many veterinary neurology clinicians and neuroscientists have formally agreed on the key aspects of canine and feline epilepsy. These consensus statements really do represent a fantastic opportunity to build on, and improve, epilepsy care on a very large scale.”

 

IVETF Consensus Statements

 

1. International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force consensus report on epilepsy definition, classification and terminology in companion animals (chaired by Prof. Mette Berendt)
   http://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-015-0461-2
2. International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force Consensus Proposal: Diagnostic approach to epilepsy in dogs (Chaired by Drs. Luisa De Risio and Sofie Bhatti)
   http://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-015-0462-1
   1. International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force current understanding of idiopathic epilepsy of genetic or suspected genetic origin in purebred dogs (Chaired by Dr. Velia-Isabel Hülsmeyer)
      http://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-015-0463-0
   2. International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force consensus proposal: Medical treatment of canine epilepsy in Europe (Chaired by Drs. Sofie Bhatti and Luisa De Risio)
      http://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-015-0464-z
   3. International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force Consensus Proposal: Outcome of therapeutic interventions in canine and feline epilepsy (Chaired by Profs. Heidrun Potschka and Andrea Fischer)
      http://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-015-0465-y
   4. International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force recommendations for a veterinary epilepsy-specific MRI protocol (Chaired by Drs. Clare Rusbridge and Sam Long)
      http://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-015-0466-x
   5. International Veterinary Epilepsy Task Force recommendations for systematic sampling and processing of brains from epileptic dogs and cats (Chaired by Profs. Kaspar Matiasek and Martí Pumarola Batlle).
      http://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-015-0467-9
      

The research paper has been published in the academic journal, BMC Veterinary Research. The IVETF consensus statements involved more than 25 co-authors (Berendt M¹; Bhatti SFM²; De Risio L³; Farquhar RG⁴; Fernández-Flores F⁵; Fischer A⁶, Hülsmeyer VI⁶; Jovanovik E⁷; Löscher W⁸, Long S⁹; Mandigers PJJ¹⁰; Matiasek K¹¹; Milne M⁹; Muñana K¹²; Packer, RMA¹³; Pakozdy A¹⁴; Patterson EE¹⁵; Penderis J¹⁶; Platt S¹⁷; Podell M¹⁸; Potschka H¹⁹; Pumarola MB⁵; Rosati M¹¹; Rusbridge C^7,20; Stein VM²¹; Tipold A²¹; Volk HA¹³; Wagner E¹¹).