BackgroundHypertension and proteinuria are medical complications associated with the multisystemic effects of long-term hypercortisolism in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism (HAC).MethodsThis study investigated the relationships among adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-stimulation test results, systemic blood pressure, and microalbuminuria in clinically-healthy dogs (n = 100), in dogs affected with naturally occurring pituitary-dependent (PDH; n = 40), or adrenal-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (ADH; n = 30).ResultsMean systemic blood pressure was similar between clinically healthy dogs and dogs with HAC (p = 0.803). However the incidence of hypertension was highest in dogs with ADH (p = 0.017), followed by dogs with PDH, with the lowest levels in clinically healthy dogs (p = 0.019). Presence of microalbuminuria and albuminuria in clinically healthy dogs and dogs affected with HAC was significantly different (p < 0.001); incidences of albuminuria followed the same pattern of hypertension; highest incidence in dogs with ADH, and lowest level in clinically healthy dogs; but microalbuminuria showed a different pattern: clinically healthy dogs had highest incidences and dogs with ADH had lowest incidence. The presence of albuminuria was not associated with blood pressure values, regardless of whether dogs were clinically healthy or affected with ADH or PDH (p = 0.306).ConclusionsHigher incidence of hypertension and albuminuria, not microalbuminuria was seen in dogs affected with HAC compared to clinically healthy dogs; incidence of hypertension and albuminuria was significantly higher in dogs affected with ADH compared to PDH. However, presence of albuminuria was not correlated with systemic blood pressure.

ABSTRACT. The purposes of the present study were to determine the systolic blood pressure (SBP) of clinically normal and conscious cats, and to set up reference values of feline SBP for subsequent clinical application. SBPs were measured in 53 healthy cats using an ultrasonic Doppler device. The mean SBP was 133.6 ± 16.0 mmHg (range, 110.0-180.0 mmHg). The distribution of SBP values was not significantly affected by factors such as breed, body condition score, or age (P>0.05), but SBP values of female cats were significantly lower and more variable than those of males (t test, P=0.004; F test, P<0.001). Feline SBP between 114.3 mmHg and 149.5 mmHg was considered indicative of normotension. SBP values higher than 159.3 mmHg were defined as hypertension, and those less than 104.5 mmHg were determined as hypotension. KEY WORDS: clinically normal, Doppler, feline reference value, systolic blood pressure.J. Vet. Med. Sci. 68(8): 827-832, 2006 Blood pressure (BP) is an important dynamic measurement of cardiovascular system function and is affected by physical and pathological conditions [5,7,9,12,13,27]. In feline medicine, various medical disorders, such as chronic renal failure, hyperthyroidism, retinopathy, and left ventricular hypertrophy, are associated with abnormal BP [4,7,16,17,20,[22][23]. Although BP measurements are not routinely performed in general feline practice, numerous clinical studies and case reports provide technical and diagnostic information [4,11,16,19,23,25]. Indirect BP measurements can be obtained by either Doppler or oscillometric methods, since both are noninvasive and suitable for clinical use. In conscious patients, the indirect Doppler technique has a better successful measurement rate, shows less sensitivity to respiration or movement of the animals, and has a shorter operating duration than oscillometric methods [14,21,28]. To date, only a few studies have surveyed feline BP distribution or generated reference ranges with the Doppler method, and there are some conflicting opinions on criteria for feline hypertension [15,16,20,25].The aims of the present study were to assess the distribution of systolic blood pressure (SBP) in clinically normal and conscious cats with an indirect Doppler method, and to establish reference values for feline SBP in clinical settings. MATERIALS AND METHODSFifty-three clinically normal cats at the National Taiwan University Veterinary Hospital were enrolled for this survey. All cats were assessed by physical examinations, clinical signs, chest radiographs, and routine blood profiles to exclude renal disease, cardiorespiratory diseases, heartworm infestation (Feline Heartworm Antigen Test Kit, IDEXX Laboratories, Maine, U.S.A.), or other conditions that might affect blood pressure directly. Breeds included 30 domestic shorthairs; 11 Persians; Himalayan and Persian-crossed (3 each); Siamese and domestic longhairs (2 each); and 1 American shorthair and 1 Siamese-crossed. Of these 53 cats, 32 were female and 21 were male. The mean age was 3.7 ± 2.8 years, a...

Twenty-eight dogs with iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism were studied. The most common clinical signs were cutaneous lesions (27/28), polydipsia (21/28), polyuria (19/28), and lethargy (16/28). The most predominant findings on biochemical profile were elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP, 15/28) and alanine transferase (ALT, 14/28); hypercholesterolemia (14/28); elevated aspartate transferase (AST, 12/28); and elevated triglycerides (12/18). Baseline cortisol levels of all 28 dogs were at the lower end of the reference range and exhibited suppressed or no response to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation. The mean time for each dog to show initial improvement of clinical signs after corticosteroid withdrawal was six weeks, with another mean time of 12 weeks to demonstrate complete remission.

ABSTRACT. The present study compared 2 indirect methods, Doppler sphygmomanometry and oscillometry, for measurement of the systemic blood pressure level in 100 conscious, client-owned dogs in a clinical setting on 2 separate occasions. The mean systemic blood pressure values, measured by Doppler sphygmomanometry on 2 separate occasions, were 156 ± 38.2 mmHg and 150 ± 34.1 mmHg, respectively. Using oscillometry, the mean systolic blood pressure values were 138 ± 36.9 mm Hg and 133 ± 33.5 mm Hg on 2 separate occasions. There were significant differences between the systemic blood pressure readings for both methods on the same occasion (P<0.001). The coefficients of variance from 5 consecutive measurements in the same dog obtained by Doppler sphygmomanometry on the 2 separate occasions were 4.1 ± 3.2% and 3.1 ± 1.7%; that of the oscillometric method on the 2 separate occasions were 18.7 ± 11.3% and 17.2 ± 12.5%. The coefficients of variance of these 2 methods were statistically different on each occasion (P<0.001). Five consecutive systemic blood pressure readings were obtained for each dog within 6 min on both occasions using Doppler sphygmomanometry. More than 15 min was required to complete 5 consecutive systemic blood pressure readings by oscillometric sphygmomanometry for all dogs on each occasion. The results of this study indicate that Doppler sphygmomanometry provides more efficient and precise measurements of the systemic blood pressure level than oscillometric testing in conscious dogs in a clinical setting. KEY WORDS: conscious dog, Doppler sphygmomanometry, oscillometric method, systemic blood pressure.

Iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism is an extremely rare condition in cats. Twelve cats with a medical history of progressive skin lesions and long-term treatment with corticosteroids were retrospectively studied. Noncutaneous signs in the cats were variable and included anorexia, lethargy, polydipsia, polyuria, and atrophy of the thigh muscles. Laboratory abnormalities included leukocytosis, elevated alanine aminotransferase levels, and hyperglycemia. Transient diabetes mellitus was a secondary complication in four cats, and transient hypothyroidism was suspected in four cats. The mean time for regression of signs was 4.9 months after corticosteroid withdrawal.