Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Primary hyperaldosteronism in older cats causing weakness and high
By Djajadiningrat-Laanen, Sylvia et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2011·Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Netherlands·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Primary hyperaldosteronism: expanding the diagnostic net.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 13-year-old cat was brought in with symptoms of muscle weakness and high blood pressure. Tests showed low potassium levels, leading the vet to suspect primary hyperaldosteronism, a condition where the adrenal glands produce too much aldosterone. The vet confirmed the diagnosis and performed surgery to remove the affected adrenal gland, which is the best treatment for this condition. After the surgery, the cat had a good recovery, but there are risks involved, including bleeding during or after the operation.
People also search for: cat muscle weakness high blood pressure · primary hyperaldosteronism in cats · cat adrenal gland surgery recovery
Abstract
PRACTICAL RELEVANCE: Primary hyperaldosteronism is probably the most common adrenocortical disorder in cats. As in humans, it is often unrecognised, which excludes a potentially large number of cats from appropriate treatment. PATIENT GROUP: Affected cats present at a median age of 13 years (range 5-20 years). A breed or sex predilection has not been documented. The excessive secretion of mineralocorticoids usually leads to hypokalaemia and/or systemic arterial hypertension. Most affected cats present with muscular weakness and/or ocular signs of arterial hypertension. DIAGNOSTICS: In any cat presenting with hypokalaemia and/or arterial hypertension, other potential causes should be excluded. The ratio of plasma aldosterone concentration to plasma renin activity (aldosterone:renin ratio) is currently the best screening test for feline primary hyperaldosteronism. Diagnostic imaging is required to differentiate between adrenocortical neoplasia and bilateral hyperplasia, and to detect any distant metastases. CLINICAL CHALLENGES: The differentiation between adrenocortical neoplasia and bilateral hyperplasia is imperative for planning optimal therapy, but the limited sensitivity of diagnostic imaging may occasionally pose a problem. For confirmed unilateral primary hyperaldosteronism, unilateral adrenalectomy is the treatment of choice, and offers an excellent prognosis, but potentially fatal intra- and postoperative haemorrhage is a reported complication and risk factors have yet to be identified. EVIDENCE BASE: Only a few case reports are available on which to base the optimal diagnostic and therapeutic approach to feline primary hyperaldosteronism. This article reviews the physiology of aldosterone production and the pathophysiology of primary hyperaldosteronism, and summarises the currently available literature on the feline disease. Practical suggestions are given for the diagnostic investigation of cats with suspected primary hyperaldosteronism.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21872791/