Idiopathic Epilepsy Case Reports

By Alfred J. Plechner, D.V.M.

Over the years, it is important to realize that this disease has become a major problem with both dogs and cats and even with people.

The article already discusses the various implications, but the following cases will share with the actual endocrine immune imbalance that has caused idiopathic epilepsy.

CASE REPORT #1

The patient was a 6 month old female spayed, Standard Poodle which was one of six in a litter that all had idiopathic epilepsy.

Her seizures occurred weekly and even being given phenobarbital and potassium bromide, the seizures continued.

An endocrine immune test was performed on her, identifying the following imbalances:

Total Estrogen = 35.2 pg/ml

30 to 35 pg/ml

Cortisol = .4 ug/dl

1 to 2.5 ug/dl

T3 = 70 ng/dl

100 to 200 ng/dl

T4 = 4.8 ng/dl

2.0 to 4.5 ng/dl

IgA = 52 ng/dl

70 to 170 ng/dl

IgM = 82 ng/dl

100 to 200 ng/dl

IgG = 870 ng/dl

1000 to 2000 ng/dl

The results indicated a cortisol deficiency that could not fund the negative feedback to the pituitary, therefore the pituitary producing ACTH, was responded to by the inner layer adrenal cortex with its excess production of adrenal estrogen which now becomes a direct feedback.

NOTE: It takes only a small amount of abnormal estrogen to cause a major problem and that is why in this case avoiding foods that contain estrogen is imperative.

I do have a list of these foods on this website to avoid, including carrots, apples and sweet potatoes if your pet has a hormone antibody imbalance.

The elevated adrenal estrogen causes the inflammation of all the endothelial cells that line all the arteries in the body including the cerebral arteries that go to the brain.

The elevated estrogen also binds the thyroid receptor sites.

Cortisol is responsible for transference from T3 to T4 and with this cortisol imbalance, the transference is damaged and that is why the T4 level is elevated.

The elevated adrenal estrogen also deregulates the immune system so it loses recognition of self-tissue and allows for the development of autoimmunity and cancer.

The main deficiency that does occur is with the B cell production of immunoglobulins (antibodies).

When the IgA level is below 58, oral steroids and many supportive supplements will not be absorbed and that is why even testing IgA by itself is so important to guarantee that the patient can absorb what has been prescribed.

Many homeopathic and holistic supplements do not work because of a low IgA in the patient that does not allow absorption of oral supplements or oral medication to occur.

With this female Poodle having an IgA of 52, it was necessary to give her three intramuscular injections of a long acting steroid at a 10 day interval and if the IgA reached 58 which it did, she was then able to absorb oral daily steroids 10 days after her last injection.

Thyroid hormone was begun immediately, twice daily.

The female Poodle no longer takes phenobarbital or potassium bromide to control the effects of her seizure now that the cause has been identified and normalized.

With my clinical studies I have found that 80 % of the causal control will not need antiepileptic drugs to control their seizures however 20 % even on hormone regulation of the seizures may need to stay on antiepileptic drugs.

The causal control seems to help reduce the impact on the liver even being on these antiepileptic medications.

Please realize that any patient that has an IgA deficiency may have food sensitivities, vaccine reactions and insect sensitivities.

Food sensitivities are of great importance to any patient with idiopathic epilepsy because if the immune system has become sensitive to a food prior to correcting the hormone antibody imbalance, feeding that food even as a snack to a controlled patient, often will cause cluster seizures.

Unfortunately, this is rarely recognized. Please beware!

I will describe other patients and their imbalances for your consideration and please realize once their endocrine imbalance was corrected and any food sensitivities corrected, they were controlled from having any further idiopathic epileptic seizures.

Supplemental blood test results

Total Estrogen = 24.98 pg/ml

20 to 25 pg/ml

Cortisol = 0.8 ug/dl

1 to 2.5 ug/dl

T3 = 157 ng/dl

100 to 200 ng/dl

T4 = 3.4 ng/dl

2.0 to 4.5 ng/dl

IgA = 77 ng/dl

70 to 170 ng/dl

IgM = 180 ng/dl

100 to 200 ng/dl

IgG = 1800 ng/dl

1000 to 2000 ng/dl

CASE REPORT #2

This patient was a 2 year old, neutered male Beagle. He has had seizures off and on for the last year.

Total Estrogen = 25.17 pg/ml

20 to 25 pg/ml

Cortisol = 0.19 ug/dl

1 to 2.5 ug/dl

T3 = 60 ng/dl

100 to 200 ng/dl

T4 = 1.4 ng/dl

2.0 to 4.5 ng/dl

IgA = 58 ng/dl

70 to 170 ng/dl

IgM = 91 ng/dl

100 to 200 ng/dl

IgG = 890 ng/dl

1000 to 2000 ng/dl

All his imbalances were corrected and he is seizure free.

For a more in depth discussion on how to accurately fund a measureable endocrine immune imbalance, please read more of these articles on this website.

Supplemental blood test results

Total Estrogen = 24.9 pg/ml

20 to 25 pg/ml

Cortisol = 1.3 ug/dl

1 to 2.5 ug/dl

T3 = 149 ng/dl

100 to 200 ng/dl

T4 = 4.1 ng/dl

2.0 to 4.5 ng/dl

IgA = 80 ng/dl

70 to 170 ng/dl

IgM = 190 ng/dl

100 to 200 ng/dl

IgG = 1850 ng/dl

1000 to 2000 ng/dl

CASE REPORT #3

This case involved a 1 year old male, neutered Yorkshire terrier.

The following were his levels:

Total Estrogen = 25.21 pg/ml

20 to 25 pg/ml

**Cortisol = 6.0 ug/dl

1 to 2.5 ug/dl

T3 = 73 ng/dl

100 to 200 ng/dl

T4 = 1.4 ng/dl

2 to 4.5 ng/dl

IgA = 56 ng/dl

70 to 170 ng/dl

IgM = 90 ng/dl

100 to 200 ng/dl

IgG = 925 ng/dl

1000 to 2000 ng/dl

**NOTE: This high cortisol level is bound or defective and not recognized by the pituitary and that is why the adrenal estrogen is elevated. This is not Cushing syndrome but Atypical Cortisol Estrogen Imbalance Syndrome (ACEIS) or as the public refers to it as Plechner's Syndrome. You can read more about Plechner's Syndrome on this website.

These levels were all corrected and the defective cortisol replaced with active cortisol and thyroid hormone. No antiepileptic medications were needed.

Supplemental blood test results

Total Estrogen = 25.02 pg/ml

20 to 25 pg/ml

Cortisol = 0.59 ug/dl

1 to 2.5 ug/dl

T3 = 161 ng/dl

100 to 200 ng/dl

T4 = 4.2 ng/dl

2.0 to 4.5 ng/dl

IgA = 72 ng/dl

70 to 170 ng/dl

IgM = 139 ng/dl

100 to 200 ng/dl

IgG = 1198 ng/dl

1000 to 2000 ng/dl

Some last minute thoughts.

My hormone antibody normal values are based upon comparative levels, and those levels that most laboratories use are empirical levels.

Please realize, because the hormone may be present in normal amounts, will never guarantee the body can use it.

This is a very important factor that is often not recognized.

Please also recognize the fact that many small canine breeds to not have the ability to store a form of glucose in their liver that can be released immediately when the patient gets excited and burns up the available blood glucose.

When this occurs, shaking and often a seizure may occur.

This is not idiopathic epilepsy but merely occurs from low blood sugar.

Over the years with my clinical practice, I have always had my pet owners that have small dogs, add 1 to 2 drops of honey in the food daily to avoid a low blood seizure.

These are just some of my thoughts after 50 years of clinical practice and I do hope some of my thoughts will help.

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