Incidence of microcytosis in hyperthyroid cats referred for radioiodine treatment

Angie Hibbert, Claudia Gil-Morales*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Abstract Objectives The study aimed to document the incidence of erythrocyte microcytosis in a population of hyperthyroid cats referred for radioiodine (RAI) treatment. Microcytosis has been observed but not described in feline hyperthyroid patients and is associated with hyperthyroidism in humans. Methods Retrospective clinicopathological data were collected for cats undergoing RAI between January and December 2017. Microcytosis was defined as mean cell volume (MCV) <41.3 fl using the ADVIA 2120 haematology analyser (Siemens) and identified on blood smear examination by a haematology laboratory scientist or board-certified specialist in veterinary clinical pathology. Hyperthyroidism was classified as mild (total thyroxine [TT4] 60–124.9 nmol/l), moderate (TT4 125–250 nmol/l) or severe (TT4 ⩾251 nmol/l) immediately before RAI. Data were analysed descriptively and using a Pearson correlation coefficient to test the relationship between TT4 and microcytosis, and time elapsed between first diagnosis and MCV. Results There were 41 female and 37 male cats with an age range of 7.2–20.8 years. Most cats were non-pedigree (98.7%). Microcytosis (median MCV 39.8 fl, interquartile range 32.3–41.2) was present in 29.5% (23/78) of the cats. Of the 23 microcytic samples, 86.9% (20/23) were confirmed as such on smear examination. Of mildly, moderately and severely hyperthyroid cats, 23% (6/26), 28.1% (9/32) and 40% (8/20) were microcytic, respectively. Two microcytic cats had low red blood cell counts (<6 × 1012/l) and low haemoglobin concentration (<8.2 g/dl). There was no correlation between TT4 or time elapsed from first diagnosis and MCV. Microcytosis resolved in 77.7% (7/9) of cases with follow-up. One microcytic cat had significant comorbidities (portosystemic shunt). Conclusions and relevance Microcytosis was present in a significant proportion of hyperthyroid cats, most without clinically significant comorbidities, and resolved in some following RAI.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)928-935
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
Volume23
Issue number10
Early online date19 Jan 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank all the staff at the Feline Centre, Langford Vets and Langford Vets Diagnostic laboratories involved in these cases, Dr Michelle Taylor for providing statistics support, and the referring veterinary surgeons for referring the cases and providing follow-up information. The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2021.

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