Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Insulin treatment after radiotherapy for cats with acromegaly
By Dunning, M D et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2009·Department of Veterinary Medicine, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Exogenous insulin treatment after hypofractionated radiotherapy in cats with diabetes mellitus and acromegaly.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 14 cats with diabetes and acromegaly (a condition caused by excess growth hormone) received radiotherapy to help manage their symptoms. After treatment, 13 of the cats showed better control of their diabetes, with improvements lasting up to five years. While some cats continued to struggle with their diabetes, most experienced significant benefits from the radiotherapy. However, measuring a specific hormone (IGF-1) after treatment did not accurately reflect their improvement in diabetes management. Overall, radiotherapy proved to be a helpful option for these cats.
People also search for: cat diabetes treatment · acromegaly in cats · radiotherapy for cat diabetes · insulin-resistant diabetes in cats · cat growth hormone treatment
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The optimal treatment for feline acromegaly has yet to be established. Surgical and medical therapies are minimally effective although radiotherapy might have greater efficacy. The purpose of this study was to review the response and outcome of cats with acromegaly and insulin-resistant diabetes mellitus (DM) to radiotherapy. HYPOTHESES: That radiotherapy improves glycemic control in cats with acromegaly and that improved glycemic control is due to remission of clinical acromegaly; demonstrated by a fall in serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations. ANIMALS: Fourteen cats with naturally occurring acromegaly. METHODS: Retrospective case review; records of all cats treated for acromegaly with radiotherapy were reviewed from 1997 to 2008. Cats were selected on the basis of compatible clinical signs, laboratory features, and diagnostic imaging findings. Fourteen cats received radiotherapy, delivered in 10 fractions, 3 times a week to a total dose of 3,700 cGy. RESULTS: Thirteen of 14 cats had improved diabetic control after radiotherapy. These improvements were sustained for up to 60 months. DM progressed in 2 cats and 1 did not respond. Seven cats responded before the final treatment. Ten cats were euthanized, 1 as a consequence of radiotherapy. In 8 cats in which IGF-1 was measured after treatment, changes in its concentration did not reflect the clinical improvement in glycemic control. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Radiotherapy represents an effective treatment for cats with insulin-resistant DM resulting from acromegaly. IGF-1 concentration after treatment does not provide a suitable method by which remission from either acromegaly or insulin-resistant DM may be assessed.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19192146/