Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Seizures and low blood sugar in a young Somali cat with growth
By M. König et al.·Published in JFMS open reports·2018·View original on Semantic Scholar →
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Original publication title: Juvenile hyposomatotropism in a Somali cat presenting with seizures due to intermittent hypoglycaemia
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 3-month-old Somali cat was brought to the vet after experiencing seizures and episodes of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) for about a month, following a dog bite to the head. The cat was much smaller than its littermates and had a woolly coat. After testing, the vet suspected a rare condition called juvenile hyposomatotropism, which affects growth hormone levels. The cat's hypoglycemia improved on its own within a month, and the seizures stopped, but it continued to have growth issues and coat problems. A year later, the cat was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease.
People also search for: Somali cat seizures · cat low blood sugar treatment · kitten growth hormone deficiency · cat kidney disease symptoms
Abstract
Case summary A 3-month-old intact male Somali cat was evaluated for a history of seizures, hypoglycaemia and mental dullness 4 weeks after being bitten in the head by a dog. The cat’s body size and weight were approximately half that of his littermates and its haircoat was woolly, with fewer guard hairs. Multiple hypoglycaemic episodes were documented over a period of 4 weeks, which resolved rapidly after correction of the hypoglycaemia. Juvenile hyposomatotropism was presumptively diagnosed by demonstrating low circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 and after exclusion of other endocrine and non-endocrine causes of small stature and hypoglycaemia. The cat’s intermittent hypoglycaemia resolved spontaneously within 1 month and the cat never showed any more neurological signs. Nevertheless, the physical retardation and the coat abnormalities remained unchanged. A year later, the cat was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease IRIS stage 2. Relevance and novel information Hyposomatotropism is an extremely rare feline endocrinopathy. This is the second case reported in the veterinary literature, and the only one to describe hypoglycaemic events associated with growth hormone deficiency. Although hypoglycaemia is one of the most common disease manifestations in children with pituitary dwarfism, this has not yet been reported in veterinary medicine.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Semantic Scholar: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/29552354