Background: Hypersomatotropism (HST) is an increasingly recognized endocrinopathy in cats and is mostly described associated with diabetes mellitus (DM).
Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transsphenoidal hypophysectomy in treating HST and DM in cats.
Animals: Sixty-eight client-owned cats with HST and DM treated by transsphenoidal hypophysectomy.
Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Medical records were reviewed for glycemic control and serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations. Postoperative complications, death within 4 weeks, and proportion achieving diabetic remission were recorded. Survival times and DM-free intervals were calculated.
Results: Fifty-eight cats (85.3%) were alive 4 weeks postoperatively with 10 (15%) postoperative deaths. Complications included hypoglycemia (n = 9), electrolyte imbalance (n = 9), and transient congestive heart failure (n = 5). Fifty-five cats (95% of 58 surviving cats [81% of all cats undergoing surgery]) had improved control of diabetes. Diabetic remission occurred in 41 cats (71% of 58 surviving cats [60% of all cats]) with insulin administration discontinued after a median of 9 days (range, 2-120). Postoperative 4-week serum IGF-1 concentration nadir was significantly lower in cats achieving diabetic remission (median 20 ng/mL [15-708] than those that did not (324 ng/mL [15-1955]; P = .03). All cats received long-term levothyroxine and hydrocortisone PO, alongside desmopressin (conjunctival) in 38 of 53 cats (72%). Recurrence of DM occurred in 5 of 41 cats (12%) after a median of 248 days (range, 84-1232). Median survival time of all cats was 853 days (range, 1-1740).
Conclusions and clinical importance: Transsphenoidal hypophysectomy is an effective treatment for cats with HST and DM, with a long-term outcome that compares favorably to existing options.
Keywords: acromegaly; cat; diabetic; pituitary; remission; transsphenoidal.
© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.