Abstract / Description of output
Background
Feline hypoadrenocorticism is sparsely reported and nearly all reports comprise of cats with hyponatremia and/or hyperkalemia.
Hypothesis/Objectives
To describe the clinical findings, treatment response and outcome in a population of cats diagnosed with hypoadrenocorticism, including cats with and without hyponatremia and/or hyperkalemia.
Animals
Forty-one cats with hypoadrenocorticism; 36 with and 5 without hyponatremia and/or hyperkalemia.
Methods
Multi-center retrospective observational study. Data for the whole cohort was assessed using descriptive statistics and differences between cats with and without hyponatremia and/or hyperkalemia evaluated.
Results
Median age was 5.7 years (range, 0.2 to 13.8). Twenty-three (56%) cats were male and 18 (44%) were female. Cats with hyponatremia and/or hyperkalemia, were less likely to have a history of vomiting (p=0.006) but more likely to be hypothermic (p=0.034), dehydrated (p=0.043) and/or weak (p=0.043) on examination, compared to cats without hyponatremia and/or hyperkalemia. Prevalence of hypercalcemia was 31.7%. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) was diagnosed in 4/7 cases where tested; all four cats had concurrent cobalamin deficiency. Thirty-five (85.4%) cats survived to discharge. In two cats, hypoadrenocorticism occurred secondary to lymphoma. Median survival time (MST) for all-cause mortality was 2035 days (95% CI 294 – 4380 days); MST for disease-specific mortality wasn’t reached.
Conclusions and clinical importance
One-third of cats with hypoadrenocorticism had hypercalcemia. In some cases, a form without hyponatremia and/or hyperkalemia can be observed. Cats with non-neoplastic associated hypoadrenocorticism that survive initial hospitalization can have a favourable long-term prognosis. Testing for EPI may be warranted in cats diagnosed with hypoadrenocorticism
Feline hypoadrenocorticism is sparsely reported and nearly all reports comprise of cats with hyponatremia and/or hyperkalemia.
Hypothesis/Objectives
To describe the clinical findings, treatment response and outcome in a population of cats diagnosed with hypoadrenocorticism, including cats with and without hyponatremia and/or hyperkalemia.
Animals
Forty-one cats with hypoadrenocorticism; 36 with and 5 without hyponatremia and/or hyperkalemia.
Methods
Multi-center retrospective observational study. Data for the whole cohort was assessed using descriptive statistics and differences between cats with and without hyponatremia and/or hyperkalemia evaluated.
Results
Median age was 5.7 years (range, 0.2 to 13.8). Twenty-three (56%) cats were male and 18 (44%) were female. Cats with hyponatremia and/or hyperkalemia, were less likely to have a history of vomiting (p=0.006) but more likely to be hypothermic (p=0.034), dehydrated (p=0.043) and/or weak (p=0.043) on examination, compared to cats without hyponatremia and/or hyperkalemia. Prevalence of hypercalcemia was 31.7%. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) was diagnosed in 4/7 cases where tested; all four cats had concurrent cobalamin deficiency. Thirty-five (85.4%) cats survived to discharge. In two cats, hypoadrenocorticism occurred secondary to lymphoma. Median survival time (MST) for all-cause mortality was 2035 days (95% CI 294 – 4380 days); MST for disease-specific mortality wasn’t reached.
Conclusions and clinical importance
One-third of cats with hypoadrenocorticism had hypercalcemia. In some cases, a form without hyponatremia and/or hyperkalemia can be observed. Cats with non-neoplastic associated hypoadrenocorticism that survive initial hospitalization can have a favourable long-term prognosis. Testing for EPI may be warranted in cats diagnosed with hypoadrenocorticism
Original language | English |
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Article number | e17243 |
Pages (from-to) | 1-12 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine |
Volume | 39 |
Issue number | 1 |
Early online date | 11 Dec 2024 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 11 Dec 2024 |