hyperadrenocorticotism Flashcards
etiology for hyperadrenocorticotism
- Bilateral adrenocortical hyperplasia (80-85%)
- ACTH secreting adenoma of pars distalis
- PDH –Pituitary Dependent Hyperadrenocorticism
- Adrenocortical neoplasia (15-20%)
- ADH –Adrenal Dependent Hyperadrenocorticism
- Iatrogenic
- Exogenous steroids
causes of pituitary dependent hyperadrenocortism
-
Microadenoma
- Most (85%) pituitary tumors are microadenomas
- < 1 cm in diameter
- Clinical signs are due to excessive ACTH production
-
Macroadenoma
- Up to 15% of pituitary tumors may be macroadenomas
- > 1 cm in diameter
- Clinical signs are due to excessive ACTH production AND signs associated with mass effects of tumor
eitiology for adrenal dependent hyperadrenacorticotism
50% are benign (adenoma)
50% are malignant (adenocarcinoma)
Often large, more invasive (vena cava)
Can potentially metastasize (lungs, liver, etc.)
More common in large breed dogs
signalment for hyperadrenocortism
- Middle-aged to older dogs
- Most are > 9 years of age
- No strong sex predilection
- Any breed or mixed breed dogs
- PDH -often affects smaller dogs
- ADH –often affects larger dogs (exception: PDH in Boxers)
history for hyperadrenocorcotism
- Generally considered “healthy” by the owner
- Clinical signs due to effects of excess glucocorticoids
- Gluconeogenic
- Lipolytic
- Protein catabolic
- Anti-inflammatory
- Immunosuppressive
- The P’s
- Polyuria and polydipsia (80% of cases)
- Polyphagia (90% of cases)
- Panting
- Decreased exercise tolerance
Lethargy
what do u feel on pe of a hyperadrenocorticotism dog
- Abdominal enlargement (80%)
- Muscle weakness
- Hepatomegaly
- Hepatocyte vacuolation due to glycogen accumulation
- Almost all have some dermatologic signs
- Bilaterally symmetric truncal alopecia
- Thin, dry, scaling skin
- Hyperpigmentation
- Easy bruising (e.g. after venipuncture)
Comedones - Calcinosis cutis
- Calcium deposition in the dermis
- Uncommon but very suggestive of hyperadrenocorticism
- Pyoderma
- Increased susceptibility to infection
other findings of hyperadrenocorcocotism
- Hypertension (> 50% of cases)
- Poor wound healing
- Pulmonary thromboembolism
cbc findings of hyperadrenocorcocotism
- Stress leukogram
- Leukocytosis due to neutrophilia
- Monocytosis
- Lymphopenia, eosinopenia (80% of cases)
- Mild to moderate erythrocytosis
- Thrombocytosis (cause unknown)
chemistry profile for hyperadrenococotism
- Mild hyperglycemia (50% of cases)
- Glucocorticoids increase hepatic gluconeogenesis and decrease peripheral uptake of glucose
- Increased ALP (90% of cases)
- CIALP unique to the dog
- Sensitive but not specific
- Hypercholesterolemia (75% of cases)
- Increased ALT –mild to moderate (50% of cases)
urinalysis findings of hyperadrenocoticotism
- Low urine specific gravity (80% of cases)
- < 1.015 to 1.020
- Bacteriuria in 50% of cases but pyuria < 20% of cases
- Avoid catheterization for urine collection
- Increased risk of infection; use cystocentesis
- Proteinuria (can have mildly increased UPC)
abdominal rads findings for hyperadrenocorticotism
- Hepatomegaly (80-90% of cases)
- Enlarged bladder (due to polyuria)
- Approximately 50% of adrenocortical tumors calcified
- Increased risk of calcium-containing urinary calculi (calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate)
discuss resting cortisol levels as a dx for hyperadrenocorticotism
- Not valuable because many dogs with hyperadrenocorticism have normal cortisol concentrations at any given moment due to the episodic secretion of ACTH
screening tests for hyperadrenocoticotism
- ACTH Stimulation Test
- Low Dose Dexamethasone Suppression Test (LDDST)
- Urine Cortisol/Creatinine Ratio (UCCR)
ACTH stimulation test
- Normal resting cortisol
- 1-5 μg/dL; normal post-ACTH cortisol: 5-22 μg/dL
- Dogs with hyperadrenocorticism
- Exaggerated response to ACTH
- Post-ACTH cortisol > 22 μg/dL)
- Very sensitive (approximately 95%)
- Reasonably specific (approximately 90%)
advantages of ACTH stimulation test
- Cheaper than LDDST and takes less time
- Only test to identify iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism
- Test of choice to monitor dogs being treated with mitotane or trilostane
disadvantages of ACTH stimulation test
Stress of non-adrenal illness can cause abnormal test results
how does LDDST test work
- Measure plasma cortisol before and 4 and 8 hours after 0.01 mg/kg/IV dexamethasone
- Normal dogs
- Plasma cortisol decreases to < 1.4 μg/dL 4 and 8 hours after dexamethasone
- Failure to suppress suggests Cushing’s syndrome
- Very sensitive (approximately 95%)
- Not very specific (approximately 70%)
adv. of urine cortisol/crea. ratio
Easy (have owners get free catch from dog at home)
disadvantages of urine cortisol/creat. ratio
- Extremely low specificity (20-40%) despite very high sensitivity (> 90%)
- Used primarily when you don’t think the animal has Cushing’s and you want to quickly rule it out
- Not helpful at all in ruling in Cushing’s
- If positive, must perform ACTH stim or LDDST