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Polycythemia vera in a cat with cardiac hypertrophy
1County Animal Clinic, Yonkers, NY 10710.
Insights
Polycythemia vera, a rare feline disease, was diagnosed in a cat presenting with seizures. Treatment involved phlebotomy, resulting in a sustained disease-free state for over 20 months.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Hematology
- Feline Diseases
Background:
- Polycythemia vera is a rare myeloproliferative neoplasm.
- It is poorly documented in feline species.
- Diagnosis often involves excluding secondary causes of polycythemia.
Observation:
- A 4-year-old domestic shorthair cat presented with seizures.
- High packed cell volume (PCV) was noted.
- Cardiac hypertrophy was also diagnosed, potentially linked to blood hyperviscosity.
Findings:
- Polycythemia vera was diagnosed based on elevated PCV and normal serum erythropoietin levels.
- Secondary polycythemia was ruled out.
- The cat responded well to treatment.
Implications:
- This case highlights the possibility of polycythemia vera in cats presenting with neurological signs.
- Periodic phlebotomy proved an effective treatment strategy.
- Further research into feline polycythemia vera is warranted.
Abstract:
Polycythemia vera, a rare and poorly documented disease in cats, was diagnosed in a 4-year-old domestic shorthair cat admitted because of seizures. The diagnosis was made on the basis of high PCV, normal serum erythropoietin concentration (as determined by bioassay, using rabbit bone marrow cells), and elimination of secondary polycythemia as a diagnosis. Cardiac hypertrophy, which might have been secondary to blood hyperviscosity, also was diagnosed. The cat has been treated by periodic phlebotomy and has been without clinical signs of disease for more than 20 months.