Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Signs of high blood pressure brain problems in older cats
By Laura Moretto et al.·Published in Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery·2023·Department of Cardiology, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland, GB·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Manifestations of hypertensive encephalopathy in cats
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 16.5-year-old cat was brought in with signs of confusion and difficulty walking, which were later linked to high blood pressure (hypertension). The vet confirmed the hypertension through blood pressure measurements and found that the cat also had retinal damage. Treatment focused on managing the high blood pressure, which helped improve the cat's neurological symptoms. This case highlights the importance of checking for hypertension in older cats, especially when they show unusual behavior or coordination problems.
People also search for: cat confusion and walking problems · high blood pressure in cats · cat seizures treatment · older cat eye problems · cat neurological signs high blood pressure
Abstract
Objectives Hypertensive encephalopathy in cats is an important entity but is underestimated in clinical practice. This could be explained, in part, by non-specific clinical signs. The objective of this study was to characterise the clinical manifestations of hypertensive encephalopathy in cats. Methods Cats with systemic hypertension (SHT) recognised by routine screening, associated with underlying predisposing disease or a clinical presentation suggestive of SHT (neurological or non-neurological), were prospectively enrolled over a 2-year period. Confirmation of SHT was based on at least two sets of measurements of systolic blood pressure >160 mmHg by Doppler sphygmomanometry. Results Fifty-six hypertensive cats with a median age of 16.5 years were identified; 31 had neurological signs. In 16/31 cats, neurological abnormalities were the primary complaint. The other 15 cats were first presented to the medicine or ophthalmology service, and neurological disease was recognised based on the cat’s history. The most common neurological signs were ataxia, various manifestations of seizures and altered behaviour. Individual cats also showed paresis, pleurothotonus, cervical ventroflexion, stupor and facial nerve paralysis. In 28/30 cats, retinal lesions were detected. Of these 28 cats, six presented with a primary complaint of visual deficits, and neurological signs were not the primary complaint; nine presented with non-specific medical issues, without suspicion of SHT-induced organ damage; in 13 cats, neurological issues were the primary complaint and fundic abnormalities were detected subsequently. Conclusions and relevance SHT is common in older cats and the brain is an important target organ; however, neurological deficits are commonly ignored in cats with SHT. Gait abnormalities, (partial) seizures and even mild behavioural changes should prompt clinicians to consider the presence of SHT. A fundic examination in cats with suspected hypertensive encephalopathy is a sensitive test to support the diagnosis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X231153357