2018 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program: Seattle, Washington, June 14 - 15, 2018

This was a prospective study of 35 client-owned and shelter-housed mature adult cats. A full examination including systolic blood pressure, routine hematology, biochemistry and urinalysis, measurement of urine protein-creatinine ratio, total thyroxine (tT4), free thyroxine (fT4) and TSH, and a TSH stimulation test were performed. Cats thought to be 7 years or older were recruited, however the age of shelter cats could not always be verified. Hospitalized cats and cats receiving thyroid-suppressive medications were excluded. Cats were divided into 3 groups based on their physical examination and laboratory results: group 0 (no concurrent illness detected), group 1 (mild concurrent illness e.g. moderate dental disease or stable IRIS stage II chronic kidney disease) and group 2 (moderate concurrent illness e.g. untreated moderate to severe hypertension, anemia, hypoalbuminemia, proteinuria and/or hypokalemia). Results are reported as median (range). Post-TSH tT4 concentrations (post-tT4) and the ratio of tT4 concentrations before and after TSH administration (tT4 ratio) were compared between the 3 groups using the Kruskal Wallis H-test.