Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How hyperthyroidism affects kidney health in older cats
By Langston, Cathy E & Reine, Nyssa J·Published in Clinical techniques in small animal practice·2006·Nephrology, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Hyperthyroidism and the kidney.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 12-year-old cat with hyperthyroidism was treated with medication (methimazole) to manage the condition. However, about 30% of cats like hers may develop kidney problems after starting treatment, usually within a month. While the kidney issues tend to be mild and stable, there's no reliable way to predict which cats will experience this. Regular monitoring of kidney function can help manage any changes that occur.
People also search for: cat hyperthyroidism treatment · older cat kidney problems · methimazole side effects in cats
Abstract
Hyperthyroidism and chronic renal failure (CRF) are both common diseases of older cats. Hyperthyroidism increases GFR by a variety of physiologic effects. Chronic renal failure can suppress total T4 concentrations in cats with concurrent hyperthyroidism, and free T4 is not a useful distinguishing test. Medical therapy (ie, methimazole) is recommended in cats with pre-existing CRF. Overt renal failure occurs in approximately 30% of cats treated for hyperthyroidism. It usually occurs within one month of treatment and tends to remain mild and stable over time. There is no practical way to predict which cats will develop CRF after treatment of hyperthyroidism, although GFR measurement does seem useful.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16584026/