Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cats with low potassium muscle disease showing reversible head tilt
By Tamura, Shinji et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2023·Tamura Animal Clinic, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Reversible positioning head tilt observed in 14 cats with hypokalaemic myopathy.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 14 cats suddenly developed a head tilt that changed with their movements, a sign known as positioning head tilt (PHT). This was linked to a condition called hypokalaemic myopathy, which means their muscles were weak due to low potassium levels. After their potassium levels were corrected through treatment, the head tilt and other symptoms like weakness improved in all the cats.
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Abstract
CASE SERIES SUMMARY: Positioning head tilt (PHT) is a dynamic neurological sign in which the head tilts to the opposite side to which it is moving. This sign is triggered in response to head movement and is thought to be due to the lack of inhibition of vestibular nuclei by the cerebellar nodulus and uvula (NU). The occurrence of PHT in animals has been suggested to be an indicator of NU dysfunction. Here, we describe the acute onset of PHT in 14 cats. All the cats were diagnosed with hypokalaemic myopathy caused by a range of pathologies. The PHT resolved along with other signs related to myopathy, such as cervical flexion and generalised weakness, after electrolyte correction in all cats. RELEVANCE AND NOVEL INFORMATION: Hypokalaemic myopathy was the likely cause of PHT in the present feline cases.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37318332/