Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with polycythemia vera treated with hydroxyurea
By Evans, L M & Caylor, K B·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·1995·All Pets Veterinary Hospital, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Polycythemia vera in a cat and management with hydroxyurea.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 4-year-old domestic shorthair cat was brought in for trouble with jumping, unsteady back legs, and claws extending out. After tests, the vet diagnosed her with polycythemia vera, a condition where the body produces too many red blood cells. To manage her symptoms, the vet started her on hydroxyurea, a medication that helped control her condition, along with occasional blood draws to reduce the number of red blood cells. The treatment helped improve her quality of life and manage her symptoms effectively.
People also search for: cat trouble jumping · cat polycythemia vera treatment · hydroxyurea for cats · cat hind-limb ataxia causes
Abstract
Polycythemia vera (PV) was diagnosed in a four-year-old domestic shorthair evaluated for hind-limb ataxia, extension of all claws, and difficulty in jumping to elevated surfaces. Mild cardiac hypertrophy also was diagnosed. Initial laboratory evaluation revealed polycythemia (packed cell volume [PCV], 75%) and normal serum total protein (7.5 g/dl). Definitive diagnosis of PV was reached by excluding causes of relative and secondary absolute polycythemia using radiography, ultrasonography, and blood gases, and by measuring serum erythropoietin concentration by radioimmunoassay (13 mU/ml) and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method (8.0 mU/ml). Bone-marrow biopsy revealed relative erythroid hyperplasia characteristic of myeloproliferative disease. Clinical signs were controlled with hydroxyurea (12.2 mg/kg body weight) and occasional phlebotomy. Polycythemia vera is an uncommon feline disease, and clinical reports on the use of hydroxyurea to manage the condition in the cat are lacking.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8542363/