Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Surgery success for diabetes caused by growth hormone in 68 cats
By Fenn, Joe et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2021·Department of Clinical Science and Services, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Efficacy of hypophysectomy for the treatment of hypersomatotropism-induced diabetes mellitus in 68 cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 68 cats with diabetes and a condition called hypersomatotropism (HST) underwent a surgery called transsphenoidal hypophysectomy to treat their issues. After the surgery, 85% of the cats were still alive four weeks later, and many showed improved blood sugar control, with 71% going into diabetic remission and stopping insulin within about nine days. Some cats experienced complications like low blood sugar and heart issues, but overall, the surgery proved to be an effective long-term solution for managing their diabetes.
People also search for: cat diabetes treatment · hypersomatotropism in cats · cat surgery for diabetes · diabetic remission in cats · cat blood sugar control after surgery
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hypersomatotropism (HST) is an increasingly recognized endocrinopathy in cats and is mostly described associated with diabetes mellitus (DM). OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transsphenoidal hypophysectomy in treating HST and DM in cats. ANIMALS: Sixty-eight client-owned cats with HST and DM treated by transsphenoidal hypophysectomy. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study. Medical records were reviewed for glycemic control and serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations. Postoperative complications, death within 4 weeks, and proportion achieving diabetic remission were recorded. Survival times and DM-free intervals were calculated. RESULTS: Fifty-eight cats (85.3%) were alive 4 weeks postoperatively with 10 (15%) postoperative deaths. Complications included hypoglycemia (n = 9), electrolyte imbalance (n = 9), and transient congestive heart failure (n = 5). Fifty-five cats (95% of 58 surviving cats [81% of all cats undergoing surgery]) had improved control of diabetes. Diabetic remission occurred in 41 cats (71% of 58 surviving cats [60% of all cats]) with insulin administration discontinued after a median of 9 days (range, 2-120). Postoperative 4-week serum IGF-1 concentration nadir was significantly lower in cats achieving diabetic remission (median 20 ng/mL [15-708] than those that did not (324 ng/mL [15-1955]; P = .03). All cats received long-term levothyroxine and hydrocortisone PO, alongside desmopressin (conjunctival) in 38 of 53 cats (72%). Recurrence of DM occurred in 5 of 41 cats (12%) after a median of 248 days (range, 84-1232). Median survival time of all cats was 853 days (range, 1-1740). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Transsphenoidal hypophysectomy is an effective treatment for cats with HST and DM, with a long-term outcome that compares favorably to existing options.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33624865/