Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Young cat with infectious peritonitis and kidney lymphoma
By Ilse Beekhuis et al.·Published in Open Veterinary Journal·2025·City University of Hong Kong, LY·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Successful treatment and long-term follow-up of a young cat with feline infectious peritonitis and renal lymphoma
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 3.9-year-old neutered male cat was brought to the vet because he was not eating and seemed very tired. The vet found an abdominal mass, which turned out to be a type of cancer called renal lymphoma. The cat was treated with a chemotherapy protocol that included vinblastine, and he responded well at first. However, after 20 weeks, he developed new symptoms like loss of appetite and fever, leading to a diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). Fortunately, a new treatment for FIP worked, and the cat is now doing well, almost five years after his initial diagnosis without needing further treatment for either condition.
People also search for: cat not eating · feline lymphoma treatment · FIP in cats · chemotherapy side effects in cats · cat lethargy causes
Abstract
Background: Feline lymphoma is often a fatal disease and the possibility of achieving a cure with chemotherapy is questionable. A diagnosis of FIP was historically associated with a poor prognosis and high mortality, but with the newly available treatment, remission is possible. Long-term follow-up data on treated cases remain limited. Case description: A 3.9-year-old neutered male cat was presented with hyporexia and lethargy lasting several days. An abdominal mass was palpated on clinical examination and confirmed to be a renal mass on a computed tomography angiography (CTA) scan. Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspirates were performed, and cytological evaluation revealed a large-cell renal lymphoma. A modified COP protocol with the addition of vinblastine (COVP protocol) was started, resulting in a complete response. Twenty weeks after starting chemotherapy, the cat developed anorexia, fever, and pleural effusion. Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) was diagnosed based on a positive RT RNA PCR test from the pleural effusion. Subcutaneous GS441524 administration led to FIP resolution. Conclusion: The cat did not receive any further treatment for both FIP and lymphoma and is still alive and well, almost 5 years after the diagnosis. To the author's knowledge, this is the first case of renal lymphoma in a cat that subsequently developed FIP. Further studies on the potential correlation of lymphoma, chemotherapy and FIP are needed. [Open Vet. J. 2025; 15(10.000): 5383-5390]
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i10.56