Reversible facial nerve paralysis in a cat suspected to be associated with systemic hypertension

Laura Moretto; Robert Herzig; Katrin Beckmann; Nadja Wolfer; Matthias Dennler; Tony M Glaus

doi:10.1177/20551169211063454

Reversible facial nerve paralysis in a cat suspected to be associated with systemic hypertension

JFMS Open Rep. 2021 Dec 13;7(2):20551169211063454. doi: 10.1177/20551169211063454. eCollection 2021 Jul-Dec.

Authors

Laura Moretto¹, Robert Herzig², Katrin Beckmann², Nadja Wolfer³, Matthias Dennler³, Tony M Glaus¹

Affiliations

¹ Division of Cardiology, Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
² Division of Neurology, Clinic for Small Animal Surgery, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
³ Clinic of Diagnostic Imaging, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Abstract

Case summary: This report describes the appearance of facial nerve paralysis in a 16-year-old hypertensive cat. MRI was helpful in visualising and characterising mesencephalic and facial nerve lesions thought to be induced by hypertension. Neurological signs rapidly resolved under antihypertensive therapy.

Relevance and novel information: Systemic hypertension is an important medical condition in geriatric cats causing damage in various target organs, including the brain. Hypertensive encephalopathy is an umbrella term for a multitude of different clinical manifestations of cerebral target organ damage. Facial nerve paralysis secondary to hypertension is recognised in human medicine, particularly in children, but so far has not been reported in veterinary medicine.

Keywords: Blood pressure; Doppler sphygmomanometry; central nervous system; encephalopathy; hypertensive; neurological.

Publication types

Case Reports