Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Survival times for cats treated for hyperthyroidism with iodine 131
By Milner, Rowan J et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2006·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Survival times for cats with hyperthyroidism treated with iodine 131, methimazole, or both: 167 cases (1996-2003).
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 167 cats diagnosed with hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid) were treated with either iodine-131, methimazole (a medication), or a combination of both to see which treatment helped them live longer. The study found that older cats tended to survive longer, while those with existing kidney disease had shorter lifespans. Cats treated with iodine-131 alone lived an average of 4 years, while those on methimazole alone lived about 2 years. The best outcomes were seen in cats that received methimazole followed by iodine-131, with an average survival of over 5 years.
People also search for: cat hyperthyroidism treatment options · iodine-131 for cats · methimazole side effects in cats
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare survival times for cats with hyperthyroidism treated with iodine 131, methimazole, or both and identify factors associated with survival time. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 167 cats. PROCEDURE: Medical records of cats in which hyperthyroidism had been confirmed on the basis of high serum thyroxine concentration, results of thyroid scintigraphy, or both were reviewed. RESULTS: 55 (33%) cats were treated with 131I alone, 65 (39%) were treated with methimazole followed by 131I, and 47 (28%) were treated with methimazole alone. Twenty-four of 166 (14%) cats had preexisting renal disease, and 115 (69%) had preexisting hepatic disease. Age was positively correlated (r = 0.4) with survival time, with older cats more likely to live longer. Cats with preexisting renal disease had significantly shorter survival times than did cats without preexisting renal disease. When cats with preexisting renal disease were excluded, median survival time for cats treated with methimazole alone (2.0 years; interquartile range [IQR], 1 to 3.9 years) was significantly shorter than median survival time for cats treated with 131I alone (4.0 years; IQR, 3.0 to 4.8 years) or methimazole followed by 131I (5.3 years; IQR, 2.2 to 6.5 years). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that age, preexisting renal disease, and treatment type were associated with survival time in cats undergoing medical treatment of hyperthyroidism.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16478432/