Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Neurological problems in cats caused by blood vessel damage in brain
By Rylander, Helena et al.Ā·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgeryĀ·2014Ā·Department of Medical Sciences, United StatesĀ·View original on PubMed ā
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Original publication title: Feline ischemic myelopathy and encephalopathy secondary to hyaline arteriopathy in five cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Five cats suddenly showed signs of neurological problems, like weakness or difficulty moving. After imaging tests, the vets found issues in the spinal cord and treated three of the cats with immunosuppressive medications due to inflammation. One cat received antibiotics. Although all the cats initially improved, they eventually had to be euthanized because their symptoms returned. The tests revealed serious damage to the blood vessels supplying the spinal cord and brain, which contributed to their condition.
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Abstract
Five cats presented with acute-onset neurological signs. Magnetic resonance imaging in four cats showed a T2-weighted hyperintense spinal cord lesion that was mildly contrast-enhancing in three cats. Owing to inflammatory cerebrospinal fluid changes three cats were treated with immunosuppression. One cat was treated with antibiotics. All cats improved initially, but were eventually euthanased owing to the recurrence of neurological signs. Histopathology in all cats showed hyaline degeneration of the ventral spinal artery, basilar artery or associated branches with aneurysmal dilation, thrombosis and ischemic degeneration and necrosis of the spinal cord and brain. Two cats also had similar vascular changes in meningeal vessels. Vascular hyaline degeneration resulting in vascular aneurysmal dilation and thrombosis should be a differential diagnosis in cats presenting with acute central nervous system signs.
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Search related cases āOriginal publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24518252/