Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Corticosteroid hormone changes in cats with high aldosterone levels
By Langlois, Daniel K et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2021·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Multiple corticosteroid abnormalities in cats with hyperaldosteronism.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of cats with high levels of aldosterone, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands, showed abnormal levels of other hormones like progesterone and corticosterone. In particular, 32% of these cats had significantly elevated progesterone levels, which is usually much lower in healthy cats. Interestingly, the cats with high aldosterone levels had lower cortisol levels compared to those with normal levels. This information is important for understanding how adrenal tumors can affect hormone levels in cats, which can help veterinarians better diagnose and treat these conditions.
People also search for: cat adrenal tumor symptoms · hyperaldosteronism in cats · cat hormone imbalance treatment
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The frequency with which multiple corticosteroid abnormalities occur in cats with aldosterone secreting adrenocortical tumors is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate adrenal-derived corticosteroids in cats in which blood samples were submitted for measure of aldosterone. ANIMALS: Two hundred ninety-seven cats. METHODS: Retrospective study. Analysis of a convenience sample of previously submitted serum or plasma. Progesterone, corticosterone, and cortisol were measured in feline serum or plasma samples submitted to an endocrinology laboratory for aldosterone measurements. Demographics and clinical history were retrieved from submittal forms when provided. Statistical testing was performed to investigate associations among the adrenal corticosteroids. RESULTS: Progesterone and corticosterone concentrations were strongly correlated (ρ = 0.74; P < .001). Progesterone (median, 5 nmol/L; interquartile range, 3-10 nmol/L) and corticosterone (113 nmol/L, 38-250 nmol/L) in cats with markedly increased aldosterone concentrations (≥3000 pmol/L) were higher than progesterone (1 nmol/L, 1-2 nmol/L) and corticosterone (12 nmol/L, 3-25 nmol/L) in cats with normal aldosterone concentrations (P < .001 for both comparisons). Progesterone concentrations ≥10 nmol/L (normal, ≤2 nmol//L) occurred in 24 of 76 (32%) cats with aldosterone concentrations ≥3000 pmol/L. Cortisol was lower in cats with aldosterone concentrations ≥3000 pmol/L as compared to those with aldosterone concentrations <500 pmol/L (59 nmol/L, 27-103 nmol/L vs 103 nmol/L, 49-182 nmol/L; P = .002). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Multiple corticosteroid abnormalities occur in a subset of cats with hyperaldosteronism. The magnitude of increases in progesterone and corticosterone in some cats with hyperaldosteronism is likely to be clinically relevant.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34331479/