Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Recognizing and treating thyroid storm in cats to save lives
By Tolbert, Mary Katherine & Ward, Cynthia R·Published in Compendium (Yardley, PA)·2010·North Carolina State University, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Feline thyroid storm: rapid recognition to improve patient survival.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
In cats, a thyroid storm is a serious condition that happens when there is too much thyroid hormone in the body, leading to severe health issues. While we know a lot about this problem in people, it hasn't been fully studied in cats yet. Cats with hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid) can show symptoms similar to those seen in humans during a thyroid storm, which can include a rapid heart rate and high body temperature. It's crucial for veterinarians to recognize this condition quickly and provide the right treatment to help the cat recover. Early and effective treatment can significantly improve the chances of survival.
Abstract
In human medicine, thyroid storm is a well-recognized condition of acute thyrotoxicosis in which the patient's metabolic, thermoregulatory, and cardiovascular mechanisms are overwhelmed by excessive circulating levels of thyroid hormone. The etiology is unknown, but multiple precipitating factors have been proposed. Hyperthyroid cats presenting in thyrotoxic crisis have clinical signs similar to those of human thyroid storm patients; however, thyroid storm has not yet been fully characterized in veterinary medicine. Early recognition and prompt, appropriate treatment of this life-threatening condition are essential to obtaining a favorable outcome.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21882166/