Estimated prevalence of injection-site sarcomas in cats during 1992.

OBJECTIVE: To obtain an estimate of the yearly prevalence of injection-site sarcomas in cats. DESIGN: Mail survey of members of the American Association of Feline Practitioners. PROCEDURE: A questionnaire was sent to 1,112 veterinarians. RESULTS: 235 responses were sufficiently complete for inclusion in the study. Overall, responding veterinarians reported 744,993 cat visits in 1992, representing 434,638 individual cats (1.7 visits/cat). The estimated overall prevalence of injection-site sarcomas during 1992 was 0.00021 cases/cat visit (2.1 cases/10,000 cat visits) or 0.00036 cases/cat (3.6 cases/10,000 cats). CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Results suggest that injection-site sarcomas were rare during 1992.

Fulminant hepatic failure associated with oral administration of diazepam in 11 cats.

Acute fulminant hepatic necrosis was associated with repeated oral administration of diazepam (1.25 to 2 mg, PO, q 24 or 12 h), prescribed for behavioral modification or to facilitate urination. Five of 11 cats became lethargic, atactic, and anorectic within 96 hours of initial treatment. All cats became jaundiced during the first 11 days of illness. Serum biochemical analysis revealed profoundly high alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase activities. Results of coagulation tests in 3 cats revealed marked abnormalities. Ten cats died or were euthanatized within 15 days of initial drug administration, and only 1 cat survived. Histologic evaluation of hepatic tissue specimens from each cat revealed florid centrilobular hepatic necrosis, profound biliary ductule proliferation and hyperplasia, and suppurative intraductal inflammation. Idiosyncratic hepatotoxicosis was suspected because of the rarity of this condition. Prior sensitization to diazepam was possible in only 1 cat, and consistent risk factors that could explain susceptibility to drug toxicosis were not identified. On the basis of the presumption that diazepam was hepatotoxic in these cats, an increase in serum transaminase activity within 5 days of treatment initiation indicates a need to suspend drug administration and to provide supportive care.

Allogeneic marrow transplantation in a cat with acute myeloid leukemia.

A listless, anorectic 2-year-old cat was found to have a normocytic, nonregenerative anemia. A diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia type M6Er was made. Because the cat was young, had negative FeLV and feline immunodeficiency virus test results, had a sibling that could be used as a bone marrow donor, had received only 1 transfusion, and was in good health other than being anemic, allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) was attempted using marrow from the cat's sibling. The most life-threatening complication following BMT was hemorrhage caused by severe thrombocytopenia. Complete hematopoietic engraftment was evident 36 days after BMT. The cat then was discharged to its owner. In the first year, the cat continued to improve with the exception of an intractable dermatophytosis, which resolved eventually. The cat continues to do well 4 years after BMT. To our knowledge, this represents the first report of successful allogeneic BMT for a cat with acute myeloid leukemia.

Functional ectopic interstitial cell tumor in a castrated male cat.

A 12-year-old male cat that had been castrated at 6 months of age was examined to determine the cause of urine spraying of 2 years' duration. The cat had acquired physical characteristics of a sexually intact male, and its serum testosterone concentration was greater than values expected for a castrated cat. Administration of a variety of medications did not halt urine spraying. At necropsy, an interstitial cell tumor was found in a remnant of a spermatic cord.