Acromegaly in dogs and cats.

Acromegaly is an endocrine disease that leads to elevated production and secretion of growth hormone (GH). It can occur in adult and aged cats and is usually associated with neoplasms, such as functional pituitary macroadenoma of somatotropic cells. In dogs it is usually related to an increase in serum progesterone that induces production of GH by the mammary glands. The main clinical signs are related to insulin resistance and the anabolic effect induced by GH: polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, increased tissue growth, weight gain, prognathism, and other changes. The condition can be diagnosed from clinical signals and imaging associated to measurement of serum concentrations of GH and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1, also known as somatomedin C). The main therapeutic modalities are radiotherapy, hypophysectomy, and several drugs such as somatostatin analogs, dopaminergic agonists and GH receptor antagonists. The present review aims to provide a relevant animal model of acromegaly with an update on the therapeutic approach that may help clinicians to consider the GH axis-IGF-1 system, its pathogenesis and the clinical signs induced by this hormonal disorder.

Gouvêa FN ，Pennacchi CS ，Assaf ND ，Branco LO ，Costa PB ，Dos Reis PA ，Borin-Crivellenti S ... -  《-》

Acromegaly.

Scacchi M ，Cavagnini F 《-》

Feline acromegaly: a review of the syndrome.

Hurty CA ，Flatland B 《-》

Successful treatment of acromegaly in a diabetic cat with transsphenoidal hypophysectomy.

PATIENT AND SURGICAL TREATMENT: An 11-year-old, castrated male cat was referred for insulin-resistant diabetes mellitus. It had a ravenous appetite, increased body weight, polyuria/polydipsia and a dull hair coat. The cat was receiving 25 IU insulin four times daily but blood glucose concentrations remained elevated. Plasma concentrations of growth hormone (GH) (51 microg/l, reference range 0.8-7.2 microg/l) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) (3871 microg/l, reference range 39-590 microg/l) were highly elevated, whereas those of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol were normal. Computed tomography revealed a thick palatum molle and an enlarged pituitary gland, indicating a pituitary neoplasm. Microsurgical transsphenoidal hypophysectomy was performed and microscopic examination of the surgical specimen revealed an acidophilic, infiltrative pituitary adenoma that showed positive immunostaining for GH. The clinical signs resolved and 3 weeks after surgery the cat no longer required insulin administration. One year after hypophysectomy the plasma concentrations of GH and IGF-1 were 2.4 microg/l and 113 microg/l, respectively. This is the first report detailing transsphenoidal hypophysectomy as a feasible and effective treatment for feline acromegaly due to a pituitary somatotroph adenoma. Moreover, in this patient, concurrent insulin-resistant diabetes mellitus resolved completely. The surgery is discussed in the context of human and other feline therapies for acromegaly.

Meij BP ，Auriemma E ，Grinwis G ，Buijtels JJ ，Kooistra HS ... -  《-》

Acromegaly in humans and cats: Pathophysiological, clinical and management resemblances and differences.

Lopes-Pinto M ，Marques PL ，Lacerda-Nobre E ，Miceli D ，Leal RO ，Marques P ... -  《-》