Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cerebrovascular disease signs and brain artery issues in 16 cats
By Altay, Ulrike Michal et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2011·Department of Small Animals·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Feline cerebrovascular disease: clinical and histopathologic findings in 16 cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 16 cats with cerebrovascular disease (problems with blood flow to the brain) showed various symptoms, including severe neurological issues. The cats, mostly around 9 years old, experienced conditions like ischemic infarctions (blocked blood flow) and hemorrhagic infarctions (bleeding in the brain). Many had underlying health problems, such as lung disease and hyperthyroidism, which affected their symptoms. Unfortunately, none of the cats survived, highlighting the serious nature of these conditions and their impact on overall health.
People also search for: cat stroke symptoms · feline cerebrovascular disease treatment · signs of brain problems in cats
Abstract
Sixteen cats with cerebrovascular disease confirmed via histology to be of nontraumatic and nonneoplastic origins are described. In addition, the anatomy of the arterial supply of the cat's brain is reviewed. It is suggested that this unique arterial design may influence the incidence of cerebrovascular accidents in this species. Of the 16 cats reviewed, seven cats had ischemic infarctions, five had hemorrhagic infarctions, and four were diagnosed with intracranial hemorrhage. The median age was 8 yr and 9.5 yr in cats with infarctions and intracranial hemorrhages, respectively. Clinical signs were severe, acute, consistent with the localization of the cerebrovascular lesion, and influenced by underlying pathology. Four cats with infarction showed lateralized neurologic signs. Four cats with infarctions were diagnosed with pulmonary disease antemortem and three cats had hyperthyroidism. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis and computed tomography scans were available in two cats. None of the infarctions were grossly visible. All cats with hemorrhagic infarcts had severe liver pathology and nephritis was identified in four cats. Hypoxia was a feature in four cats and one cat suffered cardiac failure. In conclusion, the clinical picture is influenced by the type of cerebrovascular disease, the localization of the intracranial lesions, and any underlying pathology.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21311074/