Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Signs and lab tests before treatment of hyperthyroid cats
By Peterson, Mark E. et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1983·From The Animal Medical Center, 510 E 62nd St, New York, NY 10021 (Peterson, Kintzer, Cavanagh, Fox, Johnson); the University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, The Endocrine Section, 522 Johnson Pavilion, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (Ferguson); and The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, 525 E 68th St, New York, NY 10021 (Becker)., United States·View original on Crossref →
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Original publication title: Feline hyperthyroidism: Pretreatment clinical and laboratory evaluation of 131 cases
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 131 cats, aged 6 to 20 years, were diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, which can cause symptoms like weight loss, increased appetite, excessive thirst, and vomiting. Many of these cats also showed signs of heart issues, such as a fast heartbeat and enlarged hearts on X-rays. Blood tests confirmed high levels of thyroid hormones, and scans showed that most had enlarged thyroid glands. Treatment options typically include medication or radioactive iodine therapy, which can help manage the condition effectively.
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Abstract
SUMMARY Hyperthyroidism was diagnosed in 131 cats during a 3½-year period. The cats ranged in age from 6 to 20 years; there was no breed or sex predilection. The most frequent clinical signs included weight loss, polyphagia, increased activity, polydipsia, polyuria, and vomiting. Common serum biochemical abnormalities included high values for alkaline phosphatase activity (75%), lactate dehydrogenase activity (66%), aspartate transaminase activity (66%), and alanine transaminase activity (54%). Electrocardiographic changes included tachycardia (≥240 beats/min) and increased R-wave amplitude in lead II (≥0.9 mV) in 66% and 29% of the 131 cats, respectively. Thoracic radiography in 82 cats revealed cardiomegaly in 40 (49%) of these cats; 16 cats with congestive heart failure also had pulmonary edema or pleural effusion. In 5 cats with markedly increased fecal volume, mean 48-hour fecal fat content was significantly greater than normal, with daily fat excretion 2 to 15 times the upper limit of normal. Base-line serum thyroxine concentrations were increased above normal range in all cats, whereas triiodothyronine concentrations were increased in 127 (97%) of the 131 cats. In 11 cats tested, mean thyroxine concentration did not increase significantly after thyroid-stimulating hormone administration. Mean 24-hour percentage of thyroid radioiodine uptake in 32 hyperthyroid cats was significantly higher (39.1%) than normal (9.2%). Thyroid scans, performed on 126 cats, showed enlargement and increased radionuclide accumulation in 1 thyroid lobe in 36 (29%) and both lobes in 90 (71%) of the cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Crossref: https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.1983.183.01.103