Kiselow, M. A., K. M. Rassnick, et al. (2008). "Outcome of cats with low-grade lymphocytic lymphoma: 41 cases (1995-2005)." J Am Vet Med Assoc 232(3): 405-10.
This retrospective case series looked at 41 cats with confirmed lymphoma of various organs treated with prednisone and chlorambucil. Common clinical signs included vomiting, weight loss, anorexia, and diarrhea. The majority of cats tested had low serum cobalamin levels. Most cats (68%) had lymphoma confined to the gastrointestinal tract. A complete response to treatment was achieved in 58% of cats, and 39% achieved a partial response. Overall median survival time was 704 days. This study shows that most cats diagnosed with lymphocytic lymphoma will respond to treatment with prednisone and chlorambucil.
>> PubMed abstract
Related articles:
Hadden, A. G., S. M. Cotter, et al. (2008). "Efficacy and Toxicosis of VELCAP-C Treatment of Lymphoma in Cats." J Vet Intern Med 22(1): 153-7.
>> PubMed abstract
More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Friday, March 7, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Liver Function and Hyperthyroidism in Cats
Berent, A. C., K. J. Drobatz, et al. (2007). Liver function in cats with hyperthyroidism before and after 131I therapy. J Vet Intern Med 21(6): 1217-23.
Hyperthyroidism is a common endocrine disease of senior cats, and many patients have changes in liver enzymes and other markers of liver function at the time of diagnosis. The clinical significance of these markers of liver damage is unknown. In this study, the liver function of 19 cats with naturally occurring hyperthyroidism was evaluated before and after I-131 therapy. The majority of the cats (15/19) had significant increases in at least one liver enzyme, yet functional testing was normal. All hyperthyroid cats had normal livers on ultrasound examination. All cats responded to treatment with I-131 and all changes in liver enzymes returned to normal. This study supports the conclusion that investigation for liver disease is unnecessary in most cats with hyperthyroidism.
>> PubMed abstract
Related articles:
Archer, F. J. and S. M. Taylor (1996). Alkaline phosphatase bone isoenzyme and osteocalcin in the serum of hyperthyroid cats. Can Vet J 37(12): 735-9.
[Free full text article]
More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Hyperthyroidism is a common endocrine disease of senior cats, and many patients have changes in liver enzymes and other markers of liver function at the time of diagnosis. The clinical significance of these markers of liver damage is unknown. In this study, the liver function of 19 cats with naturally occurring hyperthyroidism was evaluated before and after I-131 therapy. The majority of the cats (15/19) had significant increases in at least one liver enzyme, yet functional testing was normal. All hyperthyroid cats had normal livers on ultrasound examination. All cats responded to treatment with I-131 and all changes in liver enzymes returned to normal. This study supports the conclusion that investigation for liver disease is unnecessary in most cats with hyperthyroidism.
>> PubMed abstract
Related articles:
Archer, F. J. and S. M. Taylor (1996). Alkaline phosphatase bone isoenzyme and osteocalcin in the serum of hyperthyroid cats. Can Vet J 37(12): 735-9.
[Free full text article]
More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Efficacy of Transdermal Atenolol for Cats
Macgregor, J. M., J. E. Rush, et al. (2008). "Comparison of pharmacodynamic variables following oral versus transdermal administration of atenolol to healthy cats." Am J Vet Res 69(1): 39-44.
Atenolol is often prescribed for cats with certain types of heart disease, most notably some forms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The drug is typically prescribed as 1/4 of a 25 mg tablet every 12 hours. Long term daily administration of oral medication may be very difficult for some owners to achieve. In recent years, there has been great interest in transdermal formulations of medication for cats. Few studies have reported on the efficacy of transdermal gel medications for cats, and of those that have been published the results are not always promising. In this project, atenolol was administered to 7 healthy cats, either orally or as a transdermal gel. Blood levels of atenolol were tested to determine efficacy of the route of administration. The difference between the two routes of administration was significant, with transdermal atenolol providing lower and inconsistent blood levels compared to oral administration.
>> PubMed abstract
Related articles:
Helms, S. R. (2007). "Treatment of feline hypertension with transdermal amlodipine: a pilot study." J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 43(3): 149-156.
Lecuyer, M., S. Prini, et al. (2006). "Clinical efficacy and safety of transdermal methimazole in the treatment of feline hyperthyroidism." Can Vet J 47(2): 131-5. [Free full text article]
More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Atenolol is often prescribed for cats with certain types of heart disease, most notably some forms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The drug is typically prescribed as 1/4 of a 25 mg tablet every 12 hours. Long term daily administration of oral medication may be very difficult for some owners to achieve. In recent years, there has been great interest in transdermal formulations of medication for cats. Few studies have reported on the efficacy of transdermal gel medications for cats, and of those that have been published the results are not always promising. In this project, atenolol was administered to 7 healthy cats, either orally or as a transdermal gel. Blood levels of atenolol were tested to determine efficacy of the route of administration. The difference between the two routes of administration was significant, with transdermal atenolol providing lower and inconsistent blood levels compared to oral administration.
>> PubMed abstract
Related articles:
Helms, S. R. (2007). "Treatment of feline hypertension with transdermal amlodipine: a pilot study." J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 43(3): 149-156.
Lecuyer, M., S. Prini, et al. (2006). "Clinical efficacy and safety of transdermal methimazole in the treatment of feline hyperthyroidism." Can Vet J 47(2): 131-5. [Free full text article]
More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Feline Interferon as a Treatment for FIP
Ritz, S., H. Egberink, et al. (2007). "Effect of feline interferon-omega on the survival time and quality of life of cats with feline infectious peritonitis." J Vet Intern Med 21(6): 1193-7.
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a devastating disease of young cats with no known effective treatment. Feline interferon-omega (Virbagen Omega, Virbac) has been used in Europe and other parts of the world to treat FIP, but its efficacy is unknown. The drug is currently not available in North America. This study evaluated the efficacy of feline interferon-omega on the survival time and quality of life in 37 privately owned cats with naturally occurring FIP. The study was designed as a placebo-controlled double-blind trial. There was no statistical difference in the survival time or other variables in cats receiving feline interferon-omega compared to cats receiving placebo.
>> PubMed abstract
Winn Feline Foundation funds 3 new studies on FIP in 2008
Bria Fund for FIP Research
More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a devastating disease of young cats with no known effective treatment. Feline interferon-omega (Virbagen Omega, Virbac) has been used in Europe and other parts of the world to treat FIP, but its efficacy is unknown. The drug is currently not available in North America. This study evaluated the efficacy of feline interferon-omega on the survival time and quality of life in 37 privately owned cats with naturally occurring FIP. The study was designed as a placebo-controlled double-blind trial. There was no statistical difference in the survival time or other variables in cats receiving feline interferon-omega compared to cats receiving placebo.
>> PubMed abstract
Winn Feline Foundation funds 3 new studies on FIP in 2008
Bria Fund for FIP Research
More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Monday, March 3, 2008
Understanding Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Cats
Winn funded researchJaneczko, S., D. Atwater, et al. (2008). "The relationship of mucosal bacteria to duodenal histopathology, cytokine mRNA, and clinical disease activity in cats with inflammatory bowel disease." Vet Microbiol 128(1-2): 178-93.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term for a group of poorly understood gastrointestinal (GI) diseases of cats. Cats with IBD have uncontrolled intestinal inflammation but the inciting causes are poorly understood. This study was designed to evaluate the relationship of intestinal mucosal bacteria to inflammation and clinical signs in cats with IBD. Biopsies of the duodenum were obtained from 27 cats: 17 cats sampled as part of diagnostic investigation for GI disease, and 10 control cats. The number of Enterobacteriaceae was higher in cats with clinical signs of GI disease than healthy cats. Total numbers of mucosal bacteria were associated with changes in mucosal architecture and the degree of inflammation. The results of this study suggest that mucosal bacteria such as Enterobacteriaceae, E. coli and Clostridium are involved in the pathogenesis of IBD in cats.
More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library