Periodic discharges in veterinary electroencephalography-A visual review

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Neurology
• Clinical Neurophysiology

Background:

• Periodic discharges (PDs) are well-documented in human electroencephalography (EEG) but are infrequently reported in veterinary literature.
• The interpretation of PDs in veterinary medicine is challenging due to their association with a broad spectrum of intracranial and systemic etiologies.
• The ictal, interictal, or postictal nature of PDs remains debated and may be context-dependent on individual patient clinical features.

Purpose of the Study:

• To visually review and present cases of periodic discharges observed in veterinary EEG.
• To compare veterinary PDs with similar patterns described in human EEG literature.
• To discuss the current understanding of the pathophysiology underlying these discharges in veterinary patients.

Main Methods:

• Visual review of electroencephalography (EEG) recordings from veterinary patients exhibiting periodic discharges.
• Comparative analysis of observed veterinary PDs with established human EEG criteria and literature.
• Discussion of potential pathophysiological mechanisms based on case presentations and existing knowledge.

Main Results:

• The study presents several veterinary cases demonstrating periodic discharges on EEG, characterized by repeated waveforms at near-regular intervals.
• Individual discharges within these patterns showed variable morphology, ranging from simple sharp or slow waves to more complex events.
• Observed PDs exhibited fluctuations in amplitude and frequency, with some instances of evolving or resolving patterns over time.

Conclusions:

• Periodic discharges in veterinary EEG, though rare, share similarities with human EEG findings.
• The diverse etiologies associated with PDs necessitate careful clinical correlation for accurate interpretation.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise pathophysiological basis and clinical significance of PDs in veterinary neurology.