Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Sciatic nerve damage in a 17-year-old acromegalic cat without diabetes
By Corsini, Andrea et al.·Published in Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Open Reports·2020·Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Parma, Italy, Italy·View original on Crossref →
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Original publication title: Sciatic neuropathy in an acromegalic cat without concurrent diabetes mellitus
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 17-year-old neutered male European Shorthair cat was brought in because he couldn't jump and was having trouble breathing. The vet found that he had a broad face, muscle wasting in his back leg, and other neurological issues. Tests showed he had high levels of a growth factor and an enlarged pituitary gland, which can be linked to acromegaly (a hormonal disorder). The cat was treated with gabapentin, a medication for nerve pain, and he was still doing well 16 months later.
People also search for: cat can't jump · cat breathing problems · acromegaly in cats treatment · gabapentin for cat nerve pain
Abstract
Case summary A 17-year-old neutered male European Shorthair cat was presented owing to an inability to jump and respiratory stridor. The owner did not report any other clinical signs. On physical examination, the main findings were plantigrade stance, broad facial features and inspiratory stridor. Neurological examination revealed posterior paraparesis, hypotonia and right hindlimb muscle atrophy. Laboratory findings were unremarkable and glycaemia was normal. Serum insulin-like growth factor 1 concentration was elevated (>1000 ng/ml). A total body CT scan showed an enlarged pituitary gland, thickening of the nasal turbinates and an L7–S1 right foraminal stenosis. Electrodiagnostic testing confirmed the presence of a neuropathy affecting both sciatic nerves. The cat was treated with gabapentin only and was still alive and euglycaemic 16 months after the diagnosis. Relevance and novel information This case describes for the first time sciatic neuropathy, an occasional complication of acromegaly in people, as a possible clinical presentation in acromegalic cats without concurrent diabetes mellitus.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Crossref: https://doi.org/10.1177/2055116920906936