Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with polycythaemia vera treated first with leeches to reduce
By Nett, C S et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2001·Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Leeching as initial treatment in a cat with polycythaemia vera.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 3-year-old domestic shorthaired cat was brought in for seizures and was found to have a very high packed cell volume (PCV), indicating a condition called polycythaemia vera, which means there are too many red blood cells. Since traditional blood removal (phlebotomy) wasn't possible due to the cat's thick blood, four leeches were used to draw blood, successfully lowering the PCV from 79% to 64%. After 24 hours, the PCV dropped further to 56%. For ongoing treatment, the cat was given a medication called hydroxyurea and received periodic blood removal.
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Abstract
Polycythaemia vera was diagnosed in a three-year-old domestic shorthaired cat referred because of seizures and a high packed cell volume (PCV). Laboratory examination revealed severe erythrocytosis (PCV 79 per cent). Diagnosis was reached by excluding causes for relative and secondary absolute polycythaemia. As phlebotomy proved impossible for initial treatment due to hyperviscosity, four leeches were used to suck blood and the PCV was consequently reduced to 64 per cent. A further 24 hours later, when bleeding at the sites of sucking had stopped, the PCV was 56 per cent. Long-term management of the condition was achieved with hydroxyurea (100 mg/cat once daily) and intermittent phlebotomy. Initial treatment using leeches in cases of polycythaemia vera is a simple, non-invasive, well tolerated and effective method where phlebotomy is not possible.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11721985/