Concentración de TSH endógena : un nuevo test para el diagnóstico de hipotiroidismo canino

Desde hace varios años disponemos del test para calcular la concentración de tirotropina (TSH) endógena canina. Los estudios publicados hasta el momento coinciden en que se trata de una prueba útil para el diagnóstico del hipotiroidismo en el perro. La concentración basal de TSH canina presenta una sensibilidad moderada (70%) y una especificidad alta (90%). Aunque la interpretación conjunta de los niveles de tiroxina (T4) total y de TSH aporta una buena eficacia diagnóstica, es conveniente descartar enfermedades no tiroideas antes de realizar estas pruebas hormonales. Cuando se evalúa un perro con un cuadro clínico compatible de hipotiroidismo, una concentración baja de T4 Y alta de TSH confirma el diagnóstico.An assay for determination of canine thyrotropin (cTSH) has become available a few years ago. Recent studies agree that determination of cTSH is a useful test for the diagnosis of hypothyroidism in dogs. The basal eTSH concentration has a moderate sensitivity (70%) and a high specificity (90%). Although the interpretation of both thyroxine (T4) and cTSH concentrations provides a good diagnostic accuracy, is suitable to rule out non-thyroidal illnesses before performing thyroid functíon tests. When evaluating a dog with clinical signs consistent with hypothyroidism, the finding of a low thyroxine concentration (T4) and a high eTSH concentration in a dog confirms the diagnosis

Citodiagnóstico conjuntival en el perro

En este trabajo se presentan las imágenes citológicas obtenidas al realizar raspados conjuntivales, tanto de perros sin alteración ocular, como de perros con conjuntivitis.In this paper, we describe the cytologic results of conjunctival scrapings in dogs without ocular disease and dogs with conjunctivitis

First description of feline inflammatory mammary carcinoma: clinicopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics of three cases

INTRODUCTION: Inflammatory breast cancer is a special type of locally advanced mammary cancer that is associated with particularly aggressive behaviour and poor prognosis. The dog was considered the only natural model in which to study the disease because, until now, it was the only species known to present with inflammatory mammary carcinoma (IMC) spontaneously. In the present study we describe clinicopathological and immunohistochemical findings of three cats with IMC, in order to evaluate its possible value as an animal model. METHODS: We prospectively studied three female cats with clinical symptoms of IMC, identified over a period of 3 years. Clinicopathological and immunohistochemical evaluations of Ki-67, and oestrogen, progesterone and androgen receptors were performed. RESULTS: All three animals presented with secondary IMC (postsurgical) characterized by a rapid onset of erythema, severe oedema, extreme local pain and firmness, absence of subjacent mammary nodules, and involvement of extremities. Rejection of the surgical suture was observed in two of the cats. Histologically, highly malignant papillary mammary carcinomas, dermal tumour embolization of superficial lymphatic vessels, and severe secondary inflammation were observed. The animals were put to sleep at 10, 15 and 45 days after diagnosis. Metastases were detected in regional lymph nodes and lungs in the two animals that were necropsied. All tumours had a high Ki-67 proliferation index and were positive for oestrogen, progesterone and androgen receptors. CONCLUSION: Our findings in feline IMC (very low prevalence, only secondary IMC, frequent association of inflammatory reaction with surgical suture rejection, steroid receptor positivity) indicate that feline IMC could be useful as an animal model of human inflammatory breast cancer, although the data should be considered with caution.Depto. de Medicina y Cirugía AnimalFac. de VeterinariaTRUEpu

Survival time of dogs with inflammatory mammary cancer treated with palliative therapy alone or palliative therapy plus chemotherapy

Seven of 30 female dogs diagnosed with inflammatory mammary cancer were given chemotherapy and palliative treatment, and the other 23 received only palliative treatment. The median survival time of the seven dogs given chemotherapy was 57 days, compared with 35 days for the 23 given only palliative treatment.Depto. de Medicina y Cirugía AnimalFac. de VeterinariaTRUEpu

Comparación de la adrenocorticólisis no selectiva con mitotano o el uso de trilostano para el tratamiento de perros con hiperadrenocorticismo hipofisario.

Forty-six dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism were treated with mitotane by the non-selective adrenocorticolysis protocol and 40 were treated twice a day with trilostane. The treatment groups were compared by chi-squared tests, and survival data were analysed using Kaplan-Meier survival plots and a Cox proportional hazard method. The non-selective adrenocorticolysis protocol was very effective (89 per cent), its toxicity was moderate (24 per cent) and there were fewer recurrences (29 per cent) than reported with the classical selective adrenocorticolysis protocol (58 per cent). In a multivariate model, age and bodyweight at diagnosis were significantly negatively correlated with survival time. The median survival time of the dogs treated with trilostane twice a day (900 days) was longer (P=0·05) than that of the dogs treated with mitotane (720 days).Depto. de Medicina y Cirugía AnimalFac. de VeterinariaTRUEpu

Histopathological and immunohistochemical findings in lymphoid tissues of the endangered Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus)

The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is the most threatened wild feline in the world. Little is known about the diseases and pathology that affect this animal. The aim of this study was to evaluate the histopathological status of the peripheral lymphoid tissues and thymus of Iberian lynxes necropsied between 1998 and 2003. Seventeen animals including females (n=8) and males (n=9), age range of 10 months to 16 years, with different causes of death were histopathologically and immunohistochemically (anti-CD3, CD79, MAC387, CD68) studied. Feline immunosuppressive virus laboratorial tests were negative. Five individuals presented neoplasia and/or tuberculosis. All animals presented some degree of both B and T cells depletion in peripheral lymphoid tissues and follicular hyalinosis in the center of depleted follicles. A viral origin of the lymphoid depletion is postulated although other causes (inbreeding, stress, toxic) are not ruled out. The loss of the effectiveness of the immune system increases the vulnerability of the critically endangered Iberian lynx to pathogensMinisterio de Medio Ambiente (España)Depto. de Medicina y Cirugía AnimalFac. de VeterinariaTRUEpu

Evaluation of palliative therapy, alone or in combination with toceranib phosphate, in dogs diagnosed with metastatic or recurrent beta-cell neoplasia

Aims: To compare survival in dogs with recurrent or metastatic insulinomas that were treated with palliative therapy, alone or in combination with toceranib phosphate and to assess tolerability of the combined therapy in dogs. Materials and methods: Dogs diagnosed with insulinoma were retrospectively identified in the records of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital Complutense (Madrid, Spain). Diagnosis of insulinoma was based on clinical signs of hypoglycaemia, concentrations in serum of glucose 10 μIU/mL and presence of a pancreatic mass on diagnostic imaging. Dogs were treated surgically or medically, according to clinical stage established by imaging techniques, and monitored with blood and urine analyses monthly and abdominal ultrasonography every 3 months until death. Dogs that presented with metastatic disease at diagnosis or with recurrent hypoglycaemia after surgery were treated, according to the owner’s decision, with one of two treatment protocols: palliative therapy alone (control group, n=7: diet, prednisone, famotidine or omeprazole, ±octreotide) or palliative therapy in combination with toceranib (treatment group, n=5; median dose of toceranib 2.52 mg/kg). Overall survival time (OST) and adverse events were compared between the two treatment groups. Results: The OST was longer in the treatment group (median 399, min 125, max 476 days) compared to the control group (median 67, min 23, max 387 days; p=0.042). Dogs in the treatment group had a higher incidence of grade 1–2 gastrointestinal toxicity (diarrhoea) than dogs in the control group (p=0.010). In all cases, gastrointestinal toxicity was solved by temporarily discontinuing toceranib. Conclusions and clinical relevance: The use of toceranib combined with palliative treatment in dogs with suspect metastatic or recurrent insulinomas increased survival time and was adequate tolerated.Universidad Complutense de MadridDepto. de Medicina y Cirugía AnimalFac. de VeterinariaTRUEpu

Prevalence of Systemic Hypertension and Control of Systolic Blood Pressure in a Cohort of 14 Dogs with Adrenal-Dependent Hypercortisolism during the First Year of Trilostane Treatment or after Adrenalectomy

Author Contributions: Conceptualization, P.G.S.J., M.D.P.-A. and C.A.B.; data curation, P.G.S.J.; formal analysis, P.G.S.J.; investigation, P.G.S.J., M.D.P.-A., D.A.-M., S.G.S. and C.A.B.; methodology, P.G.S.J., M.D.P.-A. and C.A.B.; resources, P.G.S.J., M.D.P.-A., D.A.-M., S.G.S. and C.A.B.; supervision, M.D.P.-A. and C.A.B.; visualization, P.G.S.J., M.D.P.-A., D.A.-M. and C.A.B.; writing—original draft, P.G.S.J.; writing—review and editing, P.G.S.J., M.D.P.-A., D.A.-M. and C.A.B. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.Hypercortisolism in dogs is frequently associated with systemic hypertension (SH). However, there are no studies evaluating the changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP) in dogs with adrenal-dependent hypercortisolism (ADH) during trilostane treatment or after adrenalectomy and their response to antihypertensive treatments. For this reason, the objectives of this study were to evaluate the changes in SBP in dogs with ADH during the first year of trilostane treatment or after adrenalectomy, the relation with clinical control of hypercortisolism and certain laboratory parameters, and the response to antihypertensive drugs. Fourteen dogs newly diagnosed with ADH were prospectively included and evaluated at diagnosis (T0) and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after (T1, T3, T6, and T12, respectively). Dogs were classified as hypertensive (HT; SBP ≥ 160 mmHg) and non-hypertensive. In HT dogs, benazepril was considered as the first-line drug, and, if necessary, amlodipine was prescribed. The prevalence of SH at T0 was 79%, and it was reduced to 25% at T12. Blood pressure (BP) was not associated with disease control or selected laboratory parameters at any endpoint. Only 22% of dogs with SH needed more than one drug to normalize their SBP. In all dogs surgically treated that were HT at T0, BP normalized at T3.Simple Summary: Cushing’s syndrome is a common disease in middle-aged and old dogs, characterized by steroid overproduction by the adrenal glands. This steroid excess can be caused by an adrenal tumor (adrenal dependent hypercortisolism) and is associated with systemic hypertension. In people with this disease, it is known that hypertension can be difficult to manage and, sometimes, several drugs are necessary to treat it. However, there are no studies focused on the changes in the blood pressure during treatment in dogs with adrenal-dependent hypercortisolism. In this study, 14 dogs with this disease were followed during the first year of medical treatment or during 1 year after surgery to remove the adrenal tumor (adrenalectomy), and the changes in their blood pressure were evaluated. We observed that blood pressure in medically treated dogs decreased during the study period using, in most cases, a single antihypertensive drug. Also, in those dogs surgically treated, blood pressure normalized three months after surgery, and in one case, antihypertensive medications could be reduced. Thus, when adrenalectomy is performed, it is important to carefully address blood pressure after the procedure as these dogs might require reductions in their antihypertensive treatment.Depto. de Medicina y Cirugía AnimalFac. de VeterinariaTRUEpu

Prevalence and risk factors associated with systemic hypertension in dogs with spontaneous hyperadrenocorticism

Background: Systemic hypertension (SH) is common in dogs with hyper-adrenocorticism (HAC) however there are not many studies assessing its prevalenceand risk factors. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and severity of SH in dogs with HAC andits association with clinical and laboratory findings to identify potential risk factors. Animals: Sixty-six client owned dogs with spontaneous HAC. Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Medical records of dogs with HACwere reviewed. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured using Doppler ultraso-nography. Clinical signs, physical examination findings and clinicopathologic data(CBC, serum biochemistry and electrolytes, urinalysis and urinary culture, and adrenalfunction tests) were reviewed for analysis. Results: Prevalence of SH (≥150 mm Hg) was 82% (54/66) and prevalence of severeSH (≥180 mm Hg) was 46% (30/66). All dogs with thrombocytosis had SH (P = .002),and a platelet count ≥438 × 103 /μL was 100% specific and 61.1% sensitive to predictSH (AUC = .802, P = .001). Median potassium levels were lower in hypertensive dogs(4.1 mEq/L, range 3.1-5.4 mEq/L) than in normotensive ones (4.5 mEq/L, range 4.0-5.0 mEq/L) (P = .007). Dogs with UPC ≥ 0.5 had higher median SBP than those with-out proteinuria (P = .03). Dogs with concurrent diabetes mellitus seemed to have areduced risk of SH (OR = .118, 95%CI = .022-.626, P = .02). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Systemic hypertension is common in dogs withHAC and is frequently severe. Blood pressure should be routinely assessed in these dogs,especially if thrombocytosis, proteinuria or low potassium concentrations are present.Depto. de Medicina y Cirugía AnimalFac. de VeterinariaTRUEpubPagado por el auto

Laboratory assessment of trilostane treatment in dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism

Background: Results of ACTH stimulation test (ACTHst), pre- and post-trilostane serum cortisol concentrations (SCCs), urine concentration (urine-specific gravity [USG]), and urine cortisol : creatinine ratios (UCCRs) are common variables used to monitor trilostane treatment of dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH). However, none has consistently discriminated dogs receiving an adequate dose (A) from those overdosed (O) or underdosed (U). Objectives: To assess and compare recommended monitoring variables, including serial SCCs in a cohort of dogs with PDH treated with trilostane. Animals: Privately owned dogs with PDH (n = 22) and 3 healthy dogs (controls). Methods: Prospective, multicenter, 2-day study. On day “a” (randomized): ACTHst was completed. Day “b” (>2 to <7 days later): SCCs were assessed -0.5 hours, immediately before, and 1, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 6, 8, and 12 hours after trilostane administration. On the first study day, urine collected at home was assessed for USG, UCCR and owner opinions regarding PDH were categorized as: A (clinical signs resolved), U (remains symptomatic), or ill (possible O). Results: At 27 pairs of evaluations, 7 dogs were categorized as A, 19 U, and 1 possible O (excluded from the study). There was overlap in SCC results from the A and U dogs at every time point. Results of USG, UCCR, and ACTHst did not discriminate A from U dogs. Trilostane suppresses SCC within 1 hour of administration and its duration of action in most PDH dogs is <8 hours. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: No single variable or group of variables reliably discriminated A dogs from U dogs during trilostane treatment for PDH.Depto. de Medicina y Cirugía AnimalFac. de VeterinariaTRUEpubPagado por el auto